Superstitious Long back in Tipp top form after finding lucky charm

REPUBLIC of Ireland striker Shane Long put four weeks of frustration behind him by scoring West Brom’s winner in Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Bolton and credited the rediscovery of an old lucky charm for his change of luck.

Long celebrated his goal by displaying a wristband sporting the blue and gold colours of his home county Tipperary. He missed Ireland’s Euro 2012 play-off victory over Estonia after suffering a knee injury after a late tackle from Aston Villa’s Alan Hutton last month but made a quicker than expected return for West Brom at the weekend.

And the 24-year-old picked up where he left off before his injury with his fourth strike of the season. He hopes the trusty wristband rediscovered in a box while moving houses recently will help him continue in the same vein.