Paying penalty for return of hapless McShane

IN August 2007, I travelled to Arhus to take in the Republic of Ireland’s 4-0 win against Denmark. I was there to interview Sunderland’s new signing Paul McShane and a few journalists were asking how the defender was settling in at the Stadium of Light.

Things were going well, I told them. He was the sort of gritty, whole-hearted, run through a brick wall type of player that I love to see in a back four. He’d looked impressive on his debut in a win against Spurs and we’d started the season impressively.

I wondered why my praise was met with bewildered stares.