Updated at 22.57
THERE WAS ENCOURAGING news from an Irish perspective today in the Premier League, as experienced attacker Jon Walters was named on the bench for Stoke.
Walters, who has developed into a key player for Martin O’Neill’s Ireland side and scored the decisive goals in their playoff victory over Bosnia last November, has been out injured for an extended period.
However, with the attacker named as a substitute for his side’s clash with Sunderland today, it appears he is set to be fully fit ahead of this summer’s Euros.
Meanwhile, having made his first Premier League appearance off the bench against Southampton last week, teenager Kevin Toner makes his first senior start for Aston Villa today against Watford, lining up in a defence that also includes Ireland international Ciaran Clark.
Caretaker boss Eric Black paid tribute to Toner on Friday, saying: “He deserves enormous credit. I’ve been really refreshed by his mentality and the desire to be a football player. It’s something that’s sadly missing at times now. So to see a young man who’s so passionate about being a football player and will do anything to be a football player is wonderful.”
In further encouraging news, another Ireland Euro 2016 hopeful, Harry Arter, has been named in the Bournemouth side to face Everton after returning from a two-month lay-off, while James McCarthy and Darron Gibson again feature in the Toffees’ starting XI following last week’s FA Cup semi-final disappointment.
Meanwhile, there was disappointment for Irish winger Aiden McGeady, as he was left out of promotion-chasing Sheffield Wednesday’s matchday squad to face Cardiff.
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Why wasn’t this rule brought in when ROG was at the helm!!
You can see someone like Jack Carty or Finn Russell’s stock rocketing up with this.
This will limit the effect of teams like England and SA who have the playing numbers to only field huge men.
It will also suit brilliantly guys like Larmour and Ringrose who have the skill set to really take advantage of more time and space
A great idea always thought the old one was very unfair on the skilful players kicking out on the full should remain
That kick from Bouthier, just incredible!
Interesting rule, anything that opens up more attacking space will be very welcome, otherwise we’re heading towards a glorified Rugby League hyper-defensive game!
Anything to negate the rugby league defensive line would be good. Also if they insisted that the match officials ref the offside line it help open up the game.
If you had 2 fast chasers on that a quick taken line-out, there s a try.
Strangely if a defneding team turnover the ball in their own 22 there’s less of incentive to spread and run it out
And it’s stretch the game much more, adding mileage for all legs /tree trunks
League has had this rule for decades , the 40-20 , livens up a game when it happens which is not very often
Would love to see this , would think all top flight kickers should find it easy though- maybe from inside own 10 metre ?
Would it count for kicks where a mark has been called ?
How will this be effective against the line speed of England? Coaches need to come up with creative ways to give kickers time on the ball. It does not matter what position in the team the kicker is if they have no time to kick.
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