Keegan singles Elliot out, possible start against Bolton?
For those tracking the U20 world cup teams progress this is a nice little interview done by Keegan, which I saw at www.fai.ie
Quote:
Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan has indicted that promising Irish trio, Stephen Elliott, Willo Flood and Paddy McCarthy, could be in line for first team starts against Bolton on Saturday.
The three players, who are all included in Don Givens' Republic of Ireland Under 21 squad for the Madeira International Tournament next week, have been impressive in recent weeks in the reserves with Elliott (20) being put on the bench for the first team for the last two games.
McCarthy has also been close to the first team squad while 18-year-old Flood made his first team debut in the UEFA Cup earlier this season.
But all three are in the running for a start against Bolton this week as Keegan looks to freshen up his poorly performing side that has been ravaged by injuries and suspension.
"Stephen Elliott, Willo Flood, Stephen Jordan and Paddy McCarthy were in the initial squad for our last home game," Keegan said. "Jordan was on the bench, the other three weren't while I put Stephen Elliott on the bench for the next game.
"They are doing well but we have four of five injuries and we do not have a massive squad anymore.
"I can't make any hard and fast decisions about their participation at the moment until I know if any of the players come back with any problems after the internationals.
"I think there is a good chance at Bolton, either from the start or from off the bench, that we will see one of the younger players come in.
"There will be youngsters on the bench, one or two for the game and that is a good thing.
"Let's be honest. All those ones we have been talking about have done well and I have been very impressed with young Stephen Elliott. But they have to get in there on merit and at the moment, they are being pushed forward because of injuries and suspensions."
The news will delight Ireland managers' Givens and Brian Kerr who have both insisted that first team football is vital for any player with ambitions of playing in the senior international side.
At present, a lot of the Under 21 squad are close to first team football.
Sunderland's Sean Thornton and Tottenham Hotspur duo, Stephen Kelly and Mark Yeates, have all either played or sat on the bench already this season and Givens and Kerr are hoping that they can earn regular first team football in the near future.
From watching that tournament Elliot was the one man who impressed me more then any, he also scored a hat trick on his U21 debut and I think that's his only U21 match so far aswell. He could become a real star, and the fact that Keegan has singled him out, while also mentioning a few others from that squad, and saying he could be involved in the Bolton game is great news for us. He definitely stood out as having future international potential at that tournament, so this could be great news.
