George McCartney given time to recover

Sep 17 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal

“I’ve no need to take a chance, because Kieran did a good job for me at left-back against Hull and, of course, Paulo (Da Silva) can play there too.” Cook was injured during Tuesday’s reserve team defeat by Burnley and it was confirmed yesterday he will miss several months with cruciate ligament damage to his right knee.

The striker will now undergo surgery, as will Irish midfielder David Meyler, who fell heavily and twisted his knee in training.

O’Donovan’s latest loan is the 24-year-old’s third in little over a year, and a further reminder that his career at the Stadium of Light is effectively over.

Roy Keane signed the stirker from his home town club Cork City, but in three years the Republic of Ireland B international has made just four Premier League starts.

O’Donovan was farmed out to Dundee United and Blackpool last season with little success, and will now join club-mate Jean Yves Mvoto at Roots Hall.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Trevor Carson has admitted failing to get into the club’s reserve team last season gave him the kick up the backside he needed.

With experienced goalkeepers Darren Ward and Nick Colgan backing up Craig Gordon and Márton Fülöp, the Ulsterman returned from a loan spell at Chesterfield, to find himself on the bench for the second team. But the departure of Colgan, the retirement of Ward and injuries to Gordon and Fülöp put the Northern Ireland B international on the cusp of a Premier League debut at home to Hull City last week.

“I came back from loan at Chesterfield last season in terrible shape and that’s why I ended up on the bench for the reserves during the second half of the season,” Carson told the club’s official website.

“That was the kick up the backside I needed and I told myself I had to work hard and lose weight and I’ve done that. Now I am reaping the rewards.”