St Ledger’s chance to shine

NEW season, new beginnings. But, for Sean St Ledger, that means a lot more than most.

Over the past two years, the central defender has defined a certain type of Irish squad member. Following in the line of Jason McAteer, Kevin Kilbane, Gary Breen and even Robbie Keane, St Ledger has raised his game for his country while enduring a difficult spell at club level. Most recently, the 26-year-old went from relegation with Preston to immediately playing his part in an impressive win over Italy. That seemed to emphasise that it was it a case of the right player in the wrong club conditions.

But that balance has now been redressed. St Ledger has gone from a club that has just exited the Championship through the trapdoor to one with genuinely exciting prospects of leaving it at the other end.