O'Shea shines as he makes a case
Wednesday 19 November 2008
Irish winger James O’Shea has caught the eye in his first two days with Derby County as he looks to secure a permanent move from Galway United.
The 20-year-old, who is with the Rams for a week, showed up well in training on Monday and hit two goals in a private friendly yesterday afternoon as the Rams manager Paul Jewell looked on.
Polish midfielder Przemyslaw Kazmierczak also scored twice and Ruben Zadkovich once in the 5-2 victory over Notts County at Moor Farm.
O’Shea’s goals came in the second half. The first was a deflected shot and the second a fine individual effort as he turned cleverly in the area before curling the ball high past the keeper.
He played on the right wing and went up front for the final 15 minutes, where he created good chances for Liam Dickinson and substitute Greg Mills.
A fee for O’Shea has been agreed with Galway should Derby want to sign him but a deal could only be completed when the transfer window reopens in January.
Derby have watched O’Shea play for Galway and his country and he was on a shortlist of three for PFAI Young Player of the Year award.
“He is a good footballer. He’s quick, has good ability and plays on the right or left and can even play up front. We’re having a close look and will monitor him for the rest of the week,” said Jewell, who will attend Sunday’s FAI Cup final between eircom League champions Bohemians and Derry City in Dublin.
“I’m not going to watch any particular player, just to take the game in,” he added.
Nathan Ellington, Stephen Bywater, Andy Todd, Jay McEveley, Andrejs Pereplotkins. Mitch Hanson and Alex Forde also started against a Notts team ‘managed’ by former Rams players Michael Johnson and Tommy Johnson. Defender Jason Beardsley, on loan from Derby, played for Notts.
Dickinson is back at Derby after his loan spell with Huddersfield Town and goalkeeper Lewis Price has returned from MK Dons, where he played three games. Mo Camara is due to play the last game of his loan at Blackpool this weekend.
Jewell says he would like to bring in two or three players on loan before next Tuesday’s deadline.
So far, he has been frustrated in his search to bolster the squad and he received another knock back from a Premier League club on Monday.
“I thought I’d definitely got one in on loan on Monday but I called the manager of the club and he’s picked up a couple of injuries over the weekend and now can’t let the player go,” said Jewell.
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