O’Callaghan debut for Seagulls

FORMER Cork City star George O’Callaghan will don the number 10 shirt for the first time for Brighton when the mid-table League One side take on Southend today.

O’Callaghan has moved from Ipswich to Brighton on loan after failing to make inroads at the Championship side this season. Ipswich manager Jim Magilton had been reluctant to let the midfielder leave but understood his desire for first team football and, after O’Callaghan impressed in a reserve game against Brighton, the Seagulls moved quickly to snap him up.

Says O’Callaghan: ‘‘I was very keen to come. I just want to be playing regular football and I am glad everything has now been resolved and am really looking forward to showing people what I can do.’’

Brighton manager Dean Wilkins has been tracking O’ Callaghan for some time and, by awarding him the number 10 shirt, is encouraging him to carry out the playmaker role with which he helped Cork City win the eircom League title two years ago.

‘‘I like getting on the ball and playing it and the manager has told me he wants me to do that,’’ says the Corkman. ‘‘I hope I can repay the faith he has shown in me. The manager is very ambitious and I am coming here to help Brighton back to the Premiership.’’