Jacks hail from Dublin - Geordies from Newcastle and Maccams from Sunderland. And Phil Babb will get his first start in a Sunderland Shirt, when Black Cats play french side "Amiens" in the first of their pre-season friendlies.
Some-what forgotten about,"or" out of favour with the Republic of Ireland National Team set-up, Babb has had nothing but success in his career since his departure from Liverpool, what with a league and cup winners medal at the end of the season just gone with Sporting Lisbon. Babb was a permanent part of the Republic of Ireland set-up until both he and Mark Kennedy got into a fracas in Dublin’s Harcourt St. some two years ago. Babb hasn’t played International Football since; Kennedy has, and surely based at Portugal, Babb was even more out of favour.
Babb joined Sunderland earlier in May of this year in a three year deal on a free transfer. Joining up with his former Irish international team-mates, Quinn, Kilbane and McAteer. Babb is hopeful of another chance to impress Mick, and what a better place to do it based on Sunderlands dreaded season finish 01-02, whereby the Black Cats scraped to stay in Top flight Football. Babb is still only 31, and has been capped 34 times at senior level for the Republic of Ireland. His last cap was v South Africa, New Jersey, 11/6/00. Meanwhile McAteer and Kilbane will be back from thier holidays this coming Monday.
Another out of Favour Irishman in the spot light
In the news for all of the wrong reasons, former Leeds United and Republic of Ireland defender Alan Maybury has moved into the treatment room at Tynecastle Park, home of Scottish Premier League side, Hearts of Midlothian. During Hearts pre-seaon tour of Scandinavia, the Dublin born defender went down in a lot of pain on the 34th minute, in the Scottish sides 2-1 defeat at the hands of a Finnish Div I. select in Turku. Although the extent of Alans injury is not comfirmed, medical examination will clarify whether Maybury will be out for more than a month.
Capped twice at senior level for the Republic of Ireland, his last cap was against Northern Ireland (H), on May 25th 99', and at still only 24 there is still a potential International future ahead.
Keane keen on Dublin visit?
Dublin and Eircom Premier League giants Shelbourne F.C. will take on the former Champions of Europe and England, Manchester United tomorrow at Tolka Park in Dublin. For what is surely to be a thriller surely a lot of the focus will be on "Roy Keane" who is travelling with the squad, as this will be the former Republic of Ireland Captains first game on Irish soil since his suspension 23/05/02 this year. Roy was sent home from the Republic of Ireland camp in Saipan for general insubordination and disrespect for his manager and the rest of the Team and has not been in Ireland on a football field since.
Although Keane stated that he was retiring from the Irish International set-up, this was said prior to the Cork mans sending home. Roy has not released any statement that he has retired, so we can only assume he will not be selected again under the reign of Mick McCarthy. Then again if he was to apologise as was originally requested, who know what may happen. Good luck Roy, you'll need it.
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