SIMON COX is hoping that a repeat of his FA Cup heroics of three weeks ago against Norwich City this afternoon will buy him some more time to prove he can deliver in front of goal for West Brom in the Premier League.
The 24-year-old, who is anxious to retain his first-team place in Roy Hodgson’s side so as to maximise his chances of featuring for the Republic of Ireland at Euro 2012 in June, scored a memorable hat-trick against Cardiff City in the last round of the competition but has not found the net in the two starts he has made since.
But with Shane Long likely to be rested because of an ongoing back problem, Cox is likely to keep his place and he reckons there is something about cup ties that helps to bring out the best in him.
“I like the cups,” he says. “They just seem to be games I take to, for whatever reason, and the cups have been good to me since I’ve been here. I’ve scored a lot of goals in cups since I’ve been here (Eight in 13 games.) and not as many in the league. But if I can get goals in the cups I’m sure that will result in goals coming in the league.”
Irish manager Giovanni Trapattoni, like Cox has himself, compared the West Brom striker’s game to that of Irish captain Robbie Keane, who has earned high praise from his new Aston Villa team-mate Marc Albrighton.
The 22-year-old midfielder reckons Keane has been “unbelievable” since arriving back from LA Galaxy for his short loan stint at the Premier League outfit. He says that the much-travelled striker brings an impressive sense of authority onto the pitch with him telling others “where to go and when to pass it”.
Albrighton wouldn’t be alone in wishing Keane could stay longer at the club if he could produce anything like the form he displayed last weekend against Wolves but Alex McLeish insists that the six-week term of the loan deal will not be extended.
“Have we done anything about extending Keane’s stay?” McLeish said yesterday when the subject came up. “No, his parent club is LA Galaxy and there is an agreement in place and we said that if Robbie could come and give everyone a boost, get a couple of goals, make a significant difference in the other games, then great. But that’s it.”
John O’Shea, meanwhile, believes that having put the injury problems that blighted the first few months of his Sunderland career behind him he is now getting back to his best at the north of England club and enjoying life in what is a new, yet, familiar role.
“I knew it would take me a few games to get going,” says the 30-year-old, who is likely to start at centre-back again for Sunderland against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup today, “and once the niggles were out of the way, I would hopefully get a run in the side.
“I knew that performances would improve steadily and thankfully they have, both personally and for the team. Hopefully that continues.
“It’s where I started playing professionally (centre-half). I’m really enjoying it there, but just playing is the most important thing.”
Burnley manager Eddie Howe has dismissed rumours linking Keith Treacy with a move to Sheffield Wednesday or back to Preston just six months after he arrived at Turf Moor.
The Republic of Ireland international has found it difficult to nail down a regular first-team place but, says Howe: “Keith isn’t going anywhere. He’s back in the team again. We want to keep the squad together – we need everyone for the second half of the season.”
Another Irish international staying put is Seán St Ledger. Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson yesterday insisted the centre-back has been taken off the the transfer list of the English Championship club.
The pair were involved in a heated row when Pearson dropped St Ledger for the St Stephen’s Day clash with Ipswich Town and it seemed certain that the Birmingham-born defender would depart Leicester before the transfer window closes.
“He is fine,” said Pearson. “There is no rift. I am delighted with his performances.
“Is he off the transfer list? Yes, why not.”
