Cats look for pace injection
Nov 21 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal
SUNDERLAND have recalled winger Carlos Edwards from a loan spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers as Roy Keane looks to inject more pace into his side.
Wolves were keen to see Edwards remain at Molineux until the New Year, but Keane has decided the Trinidad and Tobago international is needed on Wearside.
Edwards has struggled for form since his return from a broken leg back in March, but Keane only ever intended to use the loan move as an opportunity to get the player some much-needed game time. The Black Cats boss has been worried by the lack of pace in his side this season and feels Edwards will offer him a different sort of attacking threat on the right side of midfield.
The 30-year-old, who has played six games for the Championship leaders, only moved to the Black Country at the start of October and was initially expected to stay for three months. Keane, though, insisted he had a recall option in the deal and Edwards will go straight into the squad to play West Ham on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Keane has requested a personal hearing from the Football Association as he intends to deny a misconduct charge following a run-in with referee Martin Atkinson earlier this month. Keane was sent to the stands for the second half of Sunderland’s 5-0 drubbing at Chelsea on November 1 following a conversation with the referee at half-time.
The Irishman has maintained he was calm and polite as he questioned some of the official’s decision-making in the first half, but Atkinson still reported him for misconduct and the FA have decided he had a case to answer. A date for the hearing will be set in the next few days. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington fears his side could be embarrassed by one of international football’s worst teams if the likes of David Healy do not negotiate moves away from their current clubs.
The 29-year-old is one of a host of Irish players whose preparations for Wednesday night’s friendly against Hungary was three months of reserve-team football – and it showed as they were beaten 2-0 by Hungary. Next they face minnows San Marino and Worthington admitted he fears for their prospects.
“If we turn up in that state against San Marino away from home it could be very embarrassing,” he said. “I have told them that. I was honest with them. The display was simply not good enough and highlighted where a lot of our players are in terms of not playing for their clubs.
“But what can I do about that? I can’t do a thing. That is between the player and the club. They looked awful and that comes from their personal situations. If you are not fit, then you are going to be second best. We weren’t fit enough, we weren’t strong enough. It was men against boys.”
Despite being his country’s all-time top goalscorer, Healy’s only first-team start for Sunderland this season came in a League Cup tie at home to League One Northampton Town. He was substituted at half-time. Worthington cited Healy as one of the players who might have to ask for a transfer in January if they continue to be overlooked by their club managers.
Healy himself admitted the mood in the Windsor Park dressing room after the match had been a sombre one. “The manager has told us if we play like that against San Marino we could end up with egg on our faces,” he said.
“We could lose if we don’t raise our game. It is so disappointing that a lot of people left the ground felling short-changed. There was just no spark. Anyone coming for the first time will wonder what all the fuss is about.”
