Premier League news - Joey O’Brien vows to come back, Valero on his way to Villarreal
Bolton Wanderers defender, Joey O’Brien, vows to come back, owing to his injury plagued season in 09/10. Brien aims to get over the injury nightmare, and play his natural game, to help his side finish better than last season.
The centre back had not played for the club since 21 months, and played his first game on Saturday. Brien was able to play the second half when the Wanderers met Charleston Battery in a pre-season match. Wanderers won the match 2-0, and Joey displayed a solid performance at the back. Bolton Wanderers are currently on a pre-season tour in North America.
The Ireland international injured his knee back in October 2008, and was unable to recover from it ever since. This put his career in serious trouble, but his club was supportive enough to grant him an extension in his contract.
The defender had to watch the last season from the sidelines, while he was working hard to fully recover from his knee problems. O’Brien is now declared fully fit by the doctors, and aims to make up for his lost time at the club. The 24 year old claimed that he has had few operations on his knees and that led to people speculating that his career may come to a pre-mature end.
The Irishman, however, did not give up and met Andy William, who perhaps saved the defender’s career. According to O’Brien, he had to do a lot of rehab work with Bill Knowles, and pointed out that his family, club and faith were the only things that kept him going. The 24 year old defender is delighted with the fact that he is now fully fit, and is relishing to play in the new season.
The defender added that there is still a lot of time to make up for and a lot of things to catch up. Joey stated that playing 45 minutes against a Non-English opposition is nothing compared to the real deal, but has been training for a while now, and his troubling knee is perfectly okay now.
O’Brien claimed that the last year was tough for him; the player lost his father last year, and stated that his father was everything to him, and missed him dearly. Joey now hopes that the bad times have perhaps passed and looks forward to some good times for a change. The 24 year old is looking forward to finally step into the field, and play what he loves the most; football.
In other news, West Bromwich midfielder, Borja Valero, has joined Spanish club Villarreal on a season long loan. Borja joined the Baggies back in 2008. A product of Real Madrid youth system, Borja is an extremely talented player, but spent the last season on loan with his former employers, Real Mallorca. The 25 year old’s performances were closely monitored by La Liga giants, Sevilla, who made an offer for the midfielder; West Bromwich however rejected the offer.
Valero is now all set to play yet another season on loan in La Liga, this time with Villarreal. The Baggies have wished the midfielder best of luck for his season with Villarreal, and hope to make him part of their plans next season.
Owing to West Bromwich’s relegation from the Premier League in 2009, Borja was sent to Real Mallorca, according to technical director Dan Ashworth. The midfielder produced some outstanding performances at his former club, which led to the club deciding him to loan him out again, this time to Villarreal.
"I'd like to thank Borja for his contribution and his professional attitude throughout the last two years”, stated the technical director of the club.
West Bromwich have a difficult first game of the season, when they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. They will be without Valero however, who has made 36 appearances for the side since joining the Baggies in 2008.
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