Sunderland midfielder Jason McAteer has hit out at Graham Souness, based on his time spent with the fiery Scot at Ewood Park. Capped 49 times for the Republic of Ireland, McAteer failed to get first team action at Blackburn, after a successful domestic career with both Bolton and Liverpool. But like other Irish internationals, McAteer was surplus to requirements at the Lancashire club, and was sold to Sunderland for GBP£1mil last year.
Incidentally both Lee Carsley and Jeff Kenna were both forced to move on from Blackburn, as neither of the two fit into Souness plans also it seemed. More recently, Republic of Ireland U21 striker Ben Burgess moved to Div II, Stockport County this year from Blackburn. McAteer, last night went on to say, “He (Souness) was stopping me play football, he’s a disgrace”.
McPhail determined to prove O’Leary wrong
Out of favour Republic of Ireland and Leeds midfielder Stephen McPhail has vowed to prove David O’Leary wrong. O’Leary told the midfield player that “his cultured style had no place in modern football”. The 22-year-old London born Irish man, who has been included in the Squad to face Finland this Wednesday, is back at Elland Road after a reasonably successful loan spell at Millwall. And he’s hungry and desperate to force his way into Venables team. His left foot is unique, and he is still young in football years, having only been capped four times at senior level for the Republic of Ireland
Both Richard Sadlier and Stephen Reid failed fitness tests for Milwall at the weekend, with respective Hip and ankle injury concerns. Mark Kinsella did not turn out for Charlton’s home defeat at the hands of Chesea, by 2-3 yesterday in the first day of the Premiership. And Steve Carr seemed to twinge his hamstring in the first half of a 2-2 draw for Spurs with Everton. Steve Finnan played 45 minutes for Fulham reserves in a 1-5 win over Arsenal reserves early last week, and although he did not feature in the Premiership win with Bolton yesterday, he should travel to Helsinki with the Irish Squad. Clinton Morrison is a doubt, as today Sunday 18th Aug, a thigh injury has ruled him out of Birmingham Citys opener with Arsenal at Highbury.
Updated Squad, pre-Finland friendly
Given (Newcastle Utd.), Kiely (Charlton), Colgan (Hibs),
Harte (Leeds), Dunne (Man. City), Breen (West Ham), O'Brien / will not travel, sore shins (Newcastle), Kelly (Leeds), Cunningham (Birmingham),
Finnan (Fulham), Carr / Doubtful (Spurs), McAteer (Sunderland), Holland (Ipswich), Kilbane (Sunderland), Reid / Doubtful (Millwall), Healy (Celtic),
Kinsella / Doubtful (Charlton), Carsley (Everton), Delap (Southampton), Keane (Leeds), Morrison / Doubtful (Birmingham), Duff (Blackburn), McPhail (Leeds), Sadlier / Injured (Millwall), Doherty (Spurs)
Back to Current News page Republic of Ireland Archive News Home
