“I didn’t pressurize Emile Heskey into international retirement”: Martin O Neill
Manchester City young starlet, Joe Hart, has become one of the most wanted goal keepers in England. The 23-year-old had an impressive season on loan to Birmingham City, where he managed 12 consecutive clean sheets. For a player who has only started his career, it’s an impressive record. Joe Hart has returned for training with the Eastlands, but would probably be loaned out, owing to an impressive performance by Manchester City number 1 player Shay Given.
Now, Sunderland manager, Steve Bruce, is reportedly looking for a loan move for the player and aims to sign the player for at least this season. Joe Hart is also unsettled at Manchester City, who is again at risk of being the second choice keeper. This has led to Bruce aiming to hold talks with Manchester City, after agreeing a move for Marton Fulop to Ipswich Town. Sunderland would also be playing without first choice keeper Craig Gordon, who is ruled out for the next six weeks owing to injury, leaving a void in front of the goal.
While talking to the Sunderland Echo, the manager stated that he has been considering a move for Joe Hart and is now waiting for anything to transpire. The boss added that the time of a response from City in not in our hands and would therefore have to wait for their answer. Steve Bruce stated that the new rules put down by the FA needs to name the squad by 1st September and City may well delay the loan talks till the very end in order to fully weigh their options. Bruce is in desperate need of signing a new goal keeper who ideally wanted David James to join the club. However, the keeper chose Bristol City as his new home. The manager emphasized on the fact that it was important for keepers to have firsthand experience of playing in the English Premier league and James and Hart were the only two who fill the credentials for a short-term loan arrangement.
Bruce admitted that he wouldn’t want to sign a player from the second tier English league, as it would take time for the players to fully get accustomed to the demanding football of the Premier league.
"My concern has been that we need experienced cover but, if it's not to be, it's not to be", stated the Black Cats manager, Steve Bruce.
In other news, Aston Villa boss Martin O’ Neill insists he had nothing to do with Emile Heskey’s retirement from international football, stating that he never pressurized the player. The 32-year-old English forward, Emile Heskey, announced his retirement from international football owing to the disastrous English campaign in South Africa. The player featured in all the matches and was unable to score a single goal for his country.
While talking to the official website, O Neill stated that nobody at Villa Park pressurized Heskey into retirement and that the player made such a decision on his own. O’ Neill stated that the player perhaps now feels that he can live without international football and gives the youngsters a chance to try their luck. The manager added that the player can get some rest in a few weeks when there are international breaks and would be beneficial for his fitness.
The manager clarified that the club shouldn’t speak in such matters and international duty doesn’t affect the club. The manager however was looking forwards to a new season with Aston Villa and hopes for a better season than the previous one. Aston Villa finished 6th in the league, above 18-time champions Liverpool. The manager added that the young players cannot blame the club for not giving them opportunities to play and need to grasp anything and everything they get. The youngsters face some tough competition from the likes of Heskey, John Carew, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Nathan Delfouneso, and would need to work really hard if they want to break into the first team.
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