Archived News from September 2006
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STAGS SIGN ALAN SHEEHAN ON LOAN
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Field Mill is home from home for Sheehan
CHAD website, 07 September 2006 FIELD Mill is a home from home for Leicester City's Irish U21 international defender Alan Sheehan. He began a month on loan to the Stags today where he is re-united with manager Peter Shirtliff - who gave him his reserve team debut at Leicester - and best friend and ex-Leicester player Stephen Dawson, who he lived with for three years. "Peter gave me my first gave in the reserves at Leicester and played me a few times," said Sheehan, who hails from Athlone. "He was very good to me when he was at Leicester and it's nice to know he rates me enough to bring me here. "It is always nice to know other managers rate you and it is a light at the end of the tunnel if things didn't work out for me at Leicester. "I have been here several times to watch Stephen Dawson and he told me how much he is enjoying it. "He said they are lovely people and everyone gets on well. "Obviously I have played in a young reserve side at Leicester where the first team is older. But it's great that the first team at Mansfield is a very young one. "It is a good young side that plays good football and I am looking forward to it. "I have trained with John Mullins at the Irish U21s and I have seen Alex John-Baptiste play a few times. It looks an exciting young team." Sheehan and Dawson were among 15 young players sharing a house in Leicester. But he and Dawson got on so well they eventually moved out and got a house together. "He is my best friend - though he does snore," smiled Sheehan. "I am delighted to see him doing well. Mansfield have given him a chance and he's taken it. I hope I can play as well as he has." Under Craig Levine, Sheehan made the transition to the Leicester first team last season and played four matches, However, an ill-timed groin injury that kept him out for five months plus Levine's departure left him back out in the cold. "It was a badly-timed injury for me," he said. "Craig Levine played me and he was a great manager. But I have played in the pre-season games this season then just been unable to break into the side. "I just want to play football and with Mansfield being close and knowing people here it made it an easy decision to come. "I just want to get involved and hope I can make a difference. "I can't really look beyond the month just yet. I just want to get playing and get match fit again as I have not played a game since that reserve match against Mansfield over a month ago." ------------ Stags optimistic over Jelleyman injury CHAD website, 07 September 2006 STAGS boss Peter Shirtliff is optimistic that left back Gareth Jelleyman's knee injury is not as bad as first feared. And he is hoping Jelleyman will be back to compete for the left back slot before the end of Alan Sheehan's month on loan from Leicester City. Sheehan (19) arrived at Field Mill this morning to train with the Stags and will go straight into the side for Saturday's visit of Hereford United. But Shirtliff has not written off Jelleyman's hopes of a swift return and said: "We don't think Gareth's injury is as bad as first feared. "It was assessed by a specialist and, although it appears he does have some slight knee ligament damage, we don't think it's too bad and we will see how it settles down over the next week before deciding whether or not it needs to be scanned. "It certainly feels a lot better than it did last weekend and we are looking on the bright side. "I am hoping he will be back within the month which will make us even stronger. He can compete with Alan but can also play left side of midfield too which gives me more options." But Irish U21 international Sheehan will play left back this Saturday and Shirtliff said: "Alan is a good prospect - no doubt about it. "He is a talented boy and has a terrific left foot. He is good in the air and good defensively. But he also likes to join in and get forward. "He has a fine strike from free kicks too which is a nice weapon for us. "Alan is highly rated at Leicester. But the problem is that he has senior players ahead of him and needs to get out and get experience on loan." The only other injury worry for Shirtliff is central defender Jon Hjelde who is still struggling with a groin strain. He was back running in training but felt uncomfortable with it yesterday which must cast further doubts over his return for the weekend. With six games in three weeks ahead, it is unlikely Stags will rush him back. ---------- mansfieldtown.net: Sheehan signs for Stags Stags' boss Peter Shirtliff is delighted at signing Leicester youngster Alan Sheehan. Sheehan is one of the group of youngster that made the leap from Academy to first team at Leicester City and Shirtliff believes his initail one month loan will be very beneficial to Mansfield Town. " He is a young player that I worked with at Leicester when I was there and he was one of the young lads that came through the academy to make the first team. Whilst I was there he played a number of reserve games and there is no doubt he is a good prospect. "He is good in the air, a good defender and he can get forward and mix it when it is required" Shirtliff told the official website this morning. With Gareth Jelleyman in doubt due to an injury picked up at Wycombe's Adams Park Stadium last week Sheehan will be thrown into the squad for Saturday's visit of Hereford United. And will be good competition for Jelleyman on his return to fitness. "Alan will be good competition for Gareth but this can only be healthy. The dialogue with Leicester was vague in it suggested we can have him for one month and then see how we get on from there. When Jelleyman returns to playing he is able to play in a wide midfield role so I have options there as well. "The thing about Alan is he has a good foot on him and he can strike a ball especially in set pieces so I think he will prove to be a nice weapon for us in attacking dead ball situations" he added ---------- http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk 6 Sep 2006 Leicester City defender Alan Sheehan has today joined League Tow outfit Mansfield Town for a one-month loan period. The Irish left-back made four appearances for the Foxes during the 2005-06 campaign, but has failed to make the break through to Rob Kelly's first-team squad this term. The City boss said: "The move will give Alan a great opportunity to get some match experience under his belt and that is something that will only help to further his development as a player. "We will obviously keep a close eye on his progress while he is away." Sheehan joined the Foxes in July 2003 after being spotted by a scout playing for Belvedere FC in his homeland. Something of a free kick specialist, Sheehan made his breakthrough into the first team when then manager Craig Levein named him in the starting line-up for City's final game of the 2004/05 Championship season at Plymouth Argyle. The 19-year-old picked up the Academy Player of the Season at the club's 2005 awards ceremony. He has made a number of appearances for his country at under 19 level and was also called up by the Irish FA to attend a training camp before making his international debut for the under 21s against Israel in June 2005. The player signed a new two-year deal with the club in April 2006 that will keep him at the Walkers Stadium until at least the end of the 2007/08 season. ------------- Young Fox moves to Mansfield Teamtalk Leicester defender Alan Sheehan has joined League Two outfit Mansfield on a month's loan. The 19-year-old has made five appearances for the Foxes, but has so far been unable to break into manager Rob Kelly's squad this season. The Stags need cover for their injured left-back Gareth Jelleyman and Irishman Sheehan fits the bill. Foxes boss Kelly told the club's official website: "The move will give Alan a great opportunity to get some match experience under his belt and that is something that will only help to further his development as a player. "We will obviously keep a close eye on his progress while he is away." ----------- soccerbase Alan Sheehan Date of birth 14-09-1986 Position Defender Nationality Ireland Currently playing for Leicester Signed on 01-05-2003 Fee Free ----------- |
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