Mark O'Brien

[Eminence Grise]

I think I read somewhere that Oyenbanjo had turned down moves to league clubs to focus on a maths degree...

Now it all adds up. Calculating so and so...

[tommy_c12000]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/16353907.stm

(http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/16353907.stm)unbelievable

[drummerboy]

He has made good progress this year, here's hoping he makes a full and speedy recovery.

[DannyInvincible]

Luck of the Irish...

Hopefully he can make a recovery. Very unfortunate and frustrating for the lad.

[Closed Account]

To Mark, if you ever read this article. I'm hoping, as a lot of people are that you make a full recovery. I've had my fair share of knee injuries (3), and the hardest part is the doubt that you'll be the same player best of luck kid.

[gastric]

Couldn't find a thread for him, but felt he deserved one. Just some updates on where he is at presently.



http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Boost-Mark-O-Brien-return-light-training/story-16837933-detail/story.html

[tommy_c12000]

There is definitely a thread on him already

[Charlie Darwin]

Yep, here's the old thread: http://foot.ie/threads/154941-Mark-O-Brien

Great news in any case. Clough really rates him. Hopefully he can bulk up a bit so he can step on to the next level.

[Olé Olé]

"It might be a case, for the foreseeable future, of managing his knee where he will not train every day but he will do enough to tick over and be fit and available for the games."

I don't like the sound of that though, reminded me of Ledley King, which is not the ideal position a young footballer would like to be in. However, it all depends on what Clough means by "the foreseeable future". He may just mean for a couple of months.

[gastric]

Apologies Mods. I did look for a thread, but mustn't have looked hard enough. Could you please merge them?

[Acornvilla]

where are the puns!?

[gastric]

This bizarre post would suggest you are a nutcase.

[the bear]

This bizarre post would suggest you are a nutcase.

Your way of the Mark:cool:

[DeLorean]

I don't like the sound of that though, reminded me of Ledley King, which is not the ideal position a young footballer would like to be in. However, it all depends on what Clough means by "the foreseeable future". He may just mean for a couple of months.

Yeah, by the general upbeat tone of the article I'd say he's only taking short term.

Incidentally, Jeff Hendrick (who also appears in the photograph) seems to be playing consistently well for quite a while now.

[tricky_colour]

where are the puns!?

He is good player he has good movement, hence it is very difficult to Mark O'Brien!!! :D

[SkStu]

He's very pacey...

[tommy_c12000]

Just noticed he made the bench tonight. Great to see it. Hopefully he will be back playing regular first team football in no time at all. A lad I've great hope for

[Charlie Darwin]

Yeah he's been on the bench a couple of times now. Hopefully he's given plenty of time to ease back in.

[tommy_c12000]

Didnt think he had made the bench the past few wks. Had been keeping an eye out. Must have missed it

[tetsujin1979]

nope, that was his was first sub appearance of the season

[Charlie Darwin]

He made the bench on Saturday as well: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19939767 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/derby-county/results)

[tommy_c12000]

Made his return today coming on in the 73rd min. Great to see it. Just wanted to beat CD to the update!

[Paddy Garcia]

Made an appearance in the 89th minute of the game yesterday - hopefully this heralds a return to first team duty.

[DeLorean]

Yeah he's been back for a few weeks. Came off the bench in a game last month as well but had been an unused sub since.

[Charlie Darwin]

Starts today away to Bristol City along with Hendrick. Greg Cunningham making his comeback on the bench for Bristol.

[Paddy Garcia]

O'Brien delighted to be back in the fold after long-term injury

"It feels brilliant to be back; during the week I didn’t know what was going to be happen, I was hoping that I would get a chance and for me to see my name in the starting XI was fantastic.

“It was great just to get the win but the clean-sheet today makes it that extra bit special. The lads were unbelievable today and you cannot take anything away from them – everyone played their part.

“I had a bit of cramp towards the end of the game but aside from that I am on a buzz now coming back into the side and hopefully I can push on from here.

“Keeping a clean-sheet is as good as scoring a goal for me; I get the same buzz from it. Keogh was in my ear the whole game talking to me, telling me what side he was on and what to do – I cannot really say much more about him, he was brilliant today.

"I cannot take my foot off the pedal with the likes of Jimmy (O'Connor) ready and waiting to come in - who has been very good this year"

[DeLorean]

Started for Derby yesterday in their 3-1 win against Boro. Pity they didn't hang on for the clean sheet but good that he was a part of a very good team performance. It's already been said elsewhere that Hendrick and Sammon got on the scoresheet, Hendrick's supposed to have been a cracker. I was hoping that Football League Show would be on BBC last night but no sign of it.

[tricky_colour]

There was a piece on Mark on the local East Midlands news, showed a few clips of him in action, he looked
pretty impressive, obviously they are going to show him looking good, but even so I was impressed it looked like he knew
what he was doing, didn't just mindlessly head the ball away, made sure they kept possession.
Obviously that's only 30 seconds of play the other 40 hours might not look so good!!
Derby could made the play offs.

[DeLorean]

This guy doesn't have much luck...

Mark O'Brien out for 6 months (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21951823)

[tricky_colour]

Unbelievable. hope his luck changes after this.

[Charlie Darwin]

I always dread seeing this thread bumped. It's the new Terry Dixon thread.

[DeLorean]

He seems a real talent too. Walks back into the side on the rare occassions he's been fit.

[DeLorean]

Trio set for comebacks in U21 friendly (http://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/article/trio-set-for-comebacks-in-u21-friendly-1196725.aspx)

Legzdins, O'Brien and Bailey on course to make their returns in Under 21 friendly today.
Derby County’s Adam Legzdins, Mark O’Brien and James Bailey could make their comebacks from injury today.

The Rams have an Under 21 friendly fixture pencilled in against Hull City at the Derby County Training Centre this afternoon (12pm kick-off) and the three players could play some part in the game against the Tigers.

Goalkeeper Legzdins and midfielder Bailey have been out of action since the start of the season with ankle and knee problems respectively, while centre-back O’Brien has been in the treatment room with a knee injury since February.

The final steps of their individual rehabilitation programmes is to return a match situation, after successfully returning to training last week.

Johnny Russell and Jeff Hendrick are also expected to feature against the Tigers to get more match fitness under their belts after making their own comebacks last Tuesday in the Under 21s’ 1-1 friendly draw against Burnley.


Update - Derby County (Facebook) (https://www.facebook.com/DerbyCounty1)

Derby County's U21s ran out 2 - 0 winners against Hull City at the Derby County Training Centre this afternoon. Conor Sammon scored a brace to seal victory for the Rams.

Adam Legzdins played the full 90 minutes, Mark O’Brien (45) and James Bailey (60).

[DeLorean]

Interview here:- (http://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/article/obrien-over-the-moon-280061.aspx)
O'Brien: "Over The Moon"
http://www.dcfc.co.uk/cms_images/player/ob-4x3129-1199876_478x359.jpg

Irish defender delighted to get back into the swing of things.
Mark O’Brien has revealed his delight at his return from injury, after coming through his first 45 minutes of football in almost 10 months, unscathed, on Tuesday afternoon.


The Irishman had not appeared in a Derby shirt since the Rams’ 3-0 victory over Huddersfield Town back in February earlier this year.


In the following fixture, he pulled out of the warm-up prior to the game against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough, before undergoing surgery on his knee in March.


However, after making his long awaited return to match action on Tuesday during the Under-21s’ 2-0 victory over Hull City, O’Brien admits to “feeling over the moon.”


He told Rams Player:“It felt brilliant to get back into it; I got 45 minutes under my belt and I am hoping I can keep building up my match fitness now.


“It felt a bit strange at first, but once I got into the game it felt normal and I tried to get back to doing the things I used to do.


“I feel over the moon to be honest; it is good to just be back out onto the pitch. It has been a long road but at the end of it all, I feel as though I am getting to where I want to be.


“The Head Physiotherapist Neil Sullivan and Strength and Conditioning Coach Steve Haines have managed my rehabilitation really well and it is just a case of trying to build it up from here on in.”


Prior to undergoing surgery in March, O’Brien had been called up to the Ireland Under-21 squad for their friendly against Holland in February.


At the time, the 21-year-old Dubliner had been deputising for the injured Jake Buxton at centre-back for the Rams, and O’Brien admits he is keen to both win back his place in the first-team squad and garner his first caps at international level.


He added: “For the past two years now I have been called up for the Ireland Under-21s and it has been a real honor to get that sort of recognition.


“But because of the situations I have been in with my knee, I have never really had an opportunity to have a good go at it.


“Hopefully, if things keep going the way they are; I keep progressing and keep improving, and I can impress both the new Head Coach here and the new management structure at Ireland, than I will get a chance.”


Watch the full interview with Mark O'Brien on Rams Player.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j53kZRuA3PE

[DeLorean]

Played full 90 mins in Derby U21's 1-0 defeat to Leeds today. Incidentally, Noel Hunt lined out for Leeds.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Played full 90 mins in Derby U21's 1-0 defeat to Leeds today. Incidentally, Noel Hunt lined out for Leeds.

Now I know why his Twitter handle is boyhunt.

[tricky_colour]

Played full 90 mins in Derby U21's 1-0 defeat to Leeds today. Incidentally, Noel Hunt lined out for Leeds.

???

How can he line out for the u21's when he is 31?

[Green]

???

How can he line out for the u21's when he is 31?

See this link here

http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/matchday/u21-competition-format/

[DeLorean]

You always get a bit of that. Think you're allowed a certain amount of overage players or something. Conor Sammon lined out for Derby's U21's in O'Brien's comeback game.

Edit: The Premier League U21 league allows three outfield players and one overage keeper per match. Presume the lower leagues are the same/similar.

[DeLorean]

Played 90mins for Derby U21's today in a 1-1 draw with Crewe. One of the Crewe players was sent off for allegedly elbowing him. He was commanding and assured according to this:

Derby Couty U21's 1-1 Crewe Alexandra U21's (http://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/article/dcfc-u21s-1-1-cafc-u21s-1380574.aspx)

[CraftyToePoke]

I really hope he gets the 18 months to two years injury free he needs now to move from potential to player. If he gets it, we could be looking at an 80 cap CB. His luck needs to change though.

[Stuttgart88]

Have you seen him play Crafty?

I get the impression he, Egan and Duffy all have great potential but could all fail to fulfill it for one reason or another.

[CraftyToePoke]

Yeah, I was at this http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/15504390 and am fairly sure I watched him Vs Leicester too even earlier. I probably did reports on here at the time in the Irish Abroad thread. Hard to be balanced when watching a young Irish kid breaking through but he did look good. A footballer.

[DeLorean]

Another 90mins for the U21's today and even claimed an important late assist.

Derby County U21's 1-1 Nottingham Forest U21's (http://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/article/derby-county-u21-1-1-forest-u21s-280214-1389075.aspx)

[Charlie Darwin]

On the bench for a second consecutive game today - shows McLaren must see something in him. Hendrick starts with Sammon on the bench.

[gastric]

O'Brien has picked up an injury, which McLaren hopes it's not serious! He really is a worry.

http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/Derby-County-defender-Mark-O-Brien-doubt-match/story-21937123-detail/story.html

[DeLorean]

Motherwell wait for Derby defender Mark O'Brien (http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28760957)

[paul_oshea]

A loan to motherwell? really? Downward trajectory starts here.

[DeLorean]

I suspect his ability to remain fit will determine the trajectory.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Amazingly, Mark isn't the most crocked defender in that team. Poor Shaun Barker turns 32 soon and has been out for over 2 and a half years. He's still training for a return. Nobody thinks he'll make it.

I hope the same fate doesn't await O'Brien. Looked like a decent player whenever I seen him.