Double target for Ireland new boy
If newly called up Alan Oâ Brien gets to step on to the pitch for the Republic of Ireland next week itâÂÂs a fair bet it will be somewhat different to his usual surroundings.
The Dubliner is in Steve StauntonâÂÂs squad to face Holland at what will be a packed Landsdowne Road next Wednesday.
The United winger though is used to turning out for Newcastle UnitedâÂÂs reserves at Kingston Park in front of a few hundred members of the Toon Army.
He will be joined in his native Dublin by Stephen Carr, who has reversed his decision to quit international football, as well as Shay Given and Damien Duff.
Oâ Brien, who has appeared for Eire U21s already, was afforded a rapturous round of applause by his team-mates when United touched down in Latvia yesterday for their UEFA Cup tie against Ventspils where he could add to his first team experience in Riga tomorrow night.
ItâÂÂs fair to say he usually catches the eye in the reserves with his electrifying runs down the left as well as his eye for goal.
And perhaps the first team beckons for the 21-year-old this season, who knows?
Those hearty souls who regularly queue for Bovril in the sub zero temperatures of Kingston Park will testify, he is worth certainly worth another look after making a few cameo appearances in 2006 so far for United.
Should he become a full international, he will join an exclusive club alongside Andy Oâ Brien and Liam Oâ Brien, two of UnitedâÂÂs other full Eire caps of years gone by.
Whether he can write himself into an even more exclusive group and the lyrics of the much-loved Any O' Brien song by becoming a THIRD Oâ Brien to score against Sunderland though remains to be seen!
Stranger things have happened - but one thing is for certain it could only be in the Carling or FA Cup if it was to happen this season.
The Oâ Brien Song (to the tune of Any Old Iron)
Liam O'Brien Andy O'Brien
Any Any Any O'Brien
Who Put The Ball In The Mackems Net
O'Brien O'Brien
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Lee Ryder - Proudly born and bred on Tyneside, the Chronicle's chief sports writer has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.
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O'Brien looked very sharp against Villareal, one ball he chased into the corner was amazing. The guy has pace, hopefully he will get a few runs in the first team this year.
Terrific news about his call-up. I just fear a lack of first team opportunities for him this season - he is obviously a cracking prospect and I can't wait to see him tearin down the Newcastle left. But the signing of Duff isn't exactly going to help him. Personally, I would have preferred the ã5m to be spent elsewhere, leaving Zogs first choice and O'Brien as his backup, as clearly we're not flush in the transfer funds department and we desperately need a top class striker - which will cost big money. Still, I'd rather have too many left wingers than not enough!
o'brien has been linked wth a loan move to my club stockport county - and how we could do with a bit of pace, flair down the left.
the move would only do good for him, county and newcastle in the long run.
Come on Adam how can you say you would have prefered not to buy Duff for 5 million .This has got to to be the best 5 Million Newcastle have spent in a long time .Zoggs still has a big part to play in the comming season and with us chalenging on four fronts this year there is still scope for the boy OBrian to make his mark.There is obviously money in the pot for a striker ,as passionate and impulsive Fred is, the one thing he is not is stupid and a striker will sign in the next few days . Buying Duff is an opportunity no club (short of Chelsea)would pass up and credit to the big man for pulling it off.As quick and as exiting as OBrian looks he is not ready to claim a place in our midfield but could be the ideal player to come off the bench.A big congratulations for making the Irish squad and travelling and possibly rooming with our Irish trio will be brilliant experience for the lad and can only benefit Newcastle.
duff has got to to be the best 5 Million Newcastle have spent in a long time ..but can we carry on doing it...it seems glenn is not picking swell heads but players who want to play footy and thats goodenough for the TOON.
I'm not saying Duff isn't a great signing as an individual for ã5m Jackie - I just worry that we might hamper the progress of another great prospect in Alan O'Brien. We kept buying striker after striker for years while Michael Chopra was scoring for fun in the reserves, and in the end he got fed up and flew the nest. I have a feeling that will come back to haunt us in years to come - I just hope players like O'Brien and N'Zogbia don't end up doing the same as Chops somewhere down the line and leaving!
It is good to see nufc being linked with players of the class of the likes of martins of inter milan i wouldnt mind seeing glenn going for a young striker at southend, i think called freddie eastwood he looks a good prospect and he`s only 20 he scores goals he would be a good back up to martins, shola and another striker
Alan O'Brien is one of the quickest wingers around. Shame that when you put a ball at his feet he is useless!!
Interesting point Paul.
But I'm sure that the fans who witnessed his two superb strikes in the Northumberland Senior Cup final against Blyth Spartans earlier this year may disagree.
True, it was only against non-league Blyth - but Alan O ' Brien has a lot more to his game than pace.
His life is ItâÂÂs fair to say he usually catches the eye in the reserves with his electrifying runs down the left as well as his eye for goal.