Real thing Ricketts’ fire still flickers

ONE man we were glad to see come off a bench this week was Rohan Ricketts, who got so much media mileage out of his return to Spurs with Shamrock Rovers, it would have been cruel had Michael O’Neill confined him to the dugout on Thursday evening.

Indeed, you wonder had O’Neill unleashed Ricketts earlier, perhaps when Rovers were panicking a little after their shock opener, if he might have imposed a little order and prevented the dam bursting so spectacularly.

Whatever O’Neill’s plans for him, you suspect Ricketts would have taken it in his stride. An interesting fellow, he has just published an eBook — Passion For Football — aimed at youngsters trying to make their way in the game. But some of its advice could double as counselling for Tevez and company.