Jason McAteer was sent off after a furious spat with former Liverpool teammate Michael Owen as the Star Sixes tournament in Glasgow was enlivened by controversy.

Very few of us paid attention when Greg Cunningham’s transfer from Preston to Cardiff City went through in June.

For all the superlatives rightly thrown in the direction of Joe Schmidt’s team the past couple of days, one aspect of Soldier Field has probably still not been fully appreciated.

Liverpool are heading in the right direction and have made one of the signings of the season in Sadio Mane but, with a need to strengthen defensively, Jurgen Klopp’s side are still a work in progress and not yet ready to challenge for a League title.

Watch the build-up to the Liverpool Legends v Carrigaline which took place in Carrigaline on Saturday.

When Roy Hodgson was asked recently to contrast the centre-halves England have brought to France (John Stones, Gary Cahill, Chris Smalling) with the choice Sven-Goran Eriksson had at World Cup in 2006 (Sol Campbell, Rio Ferdinand, Jamie Carragher and John Terry), he couldn’t quite bring himself to dispute the gulf in quality.

Ronnie Whelan believes Liverpool must hit the ground running this season in their quest for silverware and a return to Champions League football.

A small village in West Cork has scored a major coup in getting a match against some of the greatest Irish soccer legends.

Andy Townsend might struggle to remember Ireland’s 3-3 draw away to Poland in 1991 – the last competitive meeting between the two countries – but it’s a game which is lodged firmly in your humble correspondent’s memory banks.

Ex-keeper still looking for answers 20 years after Ireland’s USA ’94 hopes ended in the furnace of the Citrus Bowl.

DICTIONARY CORNER

Former Republic of Ireland international Phil Babb has been named as manager of Hayes and Yeading, the Conference South club have confirmed.

Hosted by ESPN, three former Ireland internationals gathered in a Dublin hotel yesterday, ostensibly to discuss Premier League and SPL matters but, given the week that had just been in it, it was inevitable that Giovanni Trapattoni’s reprieve would top the media agenda as we renewed old acquaintance with Packie Bonner, Jason McAteer and Phil Babb.

It is a continuing conceit of the human condition that allows us believe we are regularly blazing trails.

IF it was a surprise that GiovanniTrapattoni left James McClean outof his latest squad in the first place, then it’s perhaps an even bigger one that the manager has now suddenly decided to call up the in-form Sunderland winger for the friendly game against the Czech Republic on February 29.

ROY KEANE yesterday rounded on former Republic of Ireland teammate Phil Babb for claiming the Sunderland manager had been involved in a training-ground bust-up on the day false rumours circulated that he had quit Wearside.

MICK MARTIN remembers playing there for St Vincent’s Glasnevin CBS as a 13-year old. Liam Brady recalls the afternoons he spent watching the likes of Lar Foley and Jimmy Keaveney strut their stuff for the Dubs.

FORMER Sunderland and Republic of Ireland defender Phil Babb has stepped in to save the award-winning Golf Punk magazine from closure, taking control of the publication through his company, JF Media.

A CAUTIONARY note seems advisable after absorbing the cross-section of views expressed in the sports pages of the Sunday papers — France have conceded nothing ahead of next Saturday’s World Cup qualifying tie at the Stade de France.

BRIAN Kerr revealed yesterday that veteran midfielder Jason McAteer has offered to come out of retirement for Ireland if the manager runs into an injury crisis.

Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy has invested in youth by handing a new deal to midfielder Richie Ryan.

Gerard Houllier’s failure to end a barren run of now 14 years since Liverpool last won the championship has ultimately cost him his job at Anfield.

Sunderland manager Mick McCarthy will not be renewing the contracts of Irish pair Jason McAteer and Phil Babb.

Crystal Palace 3 Sunderland 2

West Brom manager Gary Megson refuses to accept his side have secured a return to the Barclaycard Premiership despite a last-gasp 1-0 win over promotion rivals Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland 0 Millwall 1

Sunderland 1 Sheffield United 0

Birmingham 0 Sunderland 2 (after extra-time)

Sunderland defender Gary Breen has targeted the FA Cup fifth round clash with former club Birmingham for his comeback – provided that the weather does not get in the way.

Sunderland's Irish international midfielder Colin Healy has accepted an apology over the horrific tackle that broke his leg.

The clearest indication yet that Kevin Phillips’ future lies away from Sunderland came today when his number 10 shirt was handed to Marcus Stewart.

Talal El Karkouri’s hopes of winning a permanent move to Sunderland have been dashed by manager Mick McCarthy.

Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy is confident the green shoots of recovery are breaking through the turf at the Stadium of Light.

MICK MCCARTHY looks set to be unveiled as the new manager of Sunderland today.

Marcus Stewart comes into contention for a return to the Sunderland attack for the match against Fulham at Loftus Road after recovering from a thigh injury.

Sunderland 0

Sunderland 0 Southampton 1

Sunderland boss Howard Wilkinson will make sweeping changes to the side that knocked Bolton out of the FA Cup in midweek for the visit to Goodison Park.

Thomas Sorensen returned from injury to help Sunderland snatch a precious Premiership point by holding Blackburn in a gritty battle.

It maybe the start of a new year but it was the same old Manchester United which broke brave Black Cat hearts at Old Trafford this afternoon.

Kevin Phillips hit top form when his team needed it the most as Sunderland struck back from the dead to grab a priceless point at The Hawthorns

Sunderland 0 Birmingham City 1

Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0