I always dread seeing this thread bumped. It's the new Terry Dixon thread.
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I always dread seeing this thread bumped. It's the new Terry Dixon thread.
He seems a real talent too. Walks back into the side on the rare occassions he's been fit.
Trio set for comebacks in U21 friendly
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)
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).
Interview here:-
O'Brien: "Over The Moon"
http://www.dcfc.co.uk/cms_images/pla...76_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
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
???Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
How can he line out for the u21's when he is 31?
See this link hereQuote:
Originally Posted by tricky_colour
http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/m...tition-format/
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Another 90mins for the U21's today and even claimed an important late assist.
Derby County U21's 1-1 Nottingham Forest U21's
On the bench for a second consecutive game today - shows McLaren must see something in him. Hendrick starts with Sammon on the bench.
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-Co...ail/story.html
A loan to motherwell? really? Downward trajectory starts here.
I suspect his ability to remain fit will determine the trajectory.
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.
Is that your one ridiculous and unfounded prediction based on no evidence for the day, or do you have more planned?Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
He hasn't played football for two years. This is a positive move for him and I hope it works out.
As you have found out Charwin (ridiculous and unfounded predictions), not through any of your evolutionary processes either - unfortunately I'm usually correct.
You've been dining out on Stephen Ward for years. Writing off a player you've never seen play because he's going on loan is a new kind of outrageous prediction.
Playing any sort of football would be clear upward trajectory in O'Brien's case. He's very highly regarded at Derby so I'm glad that it's only a loan move, as he was linked with permanent transfers to Sheffield United and one or two others. I think this works for everybody.
I don't mind a loan move either given his injury problems but surely that could be done to another championship team.
Having played so little football for the past couple of years I think it's no harm that he goes to a club where he'll, hopefully, walk straight into the team, within reason obviously. I've no idea how long the loan spell is supposed to be for.
Mark was very highly rated by former manager Nigel Clough, but he is incredibly injury prone and it's not clear that he's valued as highly by McClaren.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
As you say, any game time is a positive for him at the moment and he clearly has the quality to make it at Championship level at the very least, so it's a case of proving he can shake off the injury problems.
Mark has signed for Motherwell on loan until januaryQuote:
Originally Posted by Predator
Head Coach Steve McClaren said:
“It is important Mark gets out and plays some first-team football and going to Motherwell will allow him to do that. He has been incredibly patient waiting in the wings behind our other central defenders and it will benefit him going out and playing matches again.”
Still only a kid, hope he develops now.
Made his debut yesterday for Motherwell which in itself is big!
http://www.sportinglife.com/football...v-st-johnstone
I dreaded clicking on this thread.
We all dread you clicking on a thread!;)
Yeah. Sometimes the truth is hard to swallow. It's understandable.
OB desperate for fresh start.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRmu10ofQXk&app=desktop
Had a solid debut according to the match report on their website. Got motm according to a Derby Facebook page, not sure if that was Motherwell's motm maybe.
O'Brien centre of a strange sending off last night as Motherwell lose on penalties.
He's been every present since getting into the team and it has coincided with an improvement in their results. Don't know any finer details of his performances but must be doing okay. Played the ninety in their 1-1 at Celtic Park also.
"If there’s not much there for me at Derby I have to put it to one side and start focusing on what I want to do myself and make a career for myself. I’ve been at Derby for a long time and coming to Motherwell has made me think of more options other than just at Pride Park.
“If there is a career for me at Derby, brilliant, but if not this is my opportunity to make a name for myself elsewhere."
Interview here:
http://www.motherwellfc.co.uk/2014/0...a-fresh-start/
With a lot of luck, he might turn out to be our left back solution.
I haven't seen too much of O'Brien but have heard good things about him. If he's a future left back then great. At this point however, if I had to bet my life savings on it, I would say James McLean is our left back of the future. He has all the attributes to do the job long terms.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mark12345
I got the impression Mark O'Brien is an out-and-out centre half, who can fill in on a very temp measure at full-back.
I'm convinced on McClean btw. Converting him to left-back and you've attacking talent on the flanks from deep that I've not seen in a long-time.