New recruit Macken making most of second chance

NEW recruit Jonathan Macken yesterday spoke of the 20 minutes in 1997 that threatened to ruin his prospects of playing international football for Ireland.

The Manchester City striker will be given an opportunity to stake a claim to a regular place in tomorrow’s friendly against Bulgaria at Lansdowne Road.

But 20 minutes of action for England in the World Youth Cup finals in Malaysia seven years ago meant his Ireland prospects looked doomed ..... until FIFA changed the rules recently.