O'Brien ready to fight for his place

Andy O’Brien has vowed he will not become another of Newcastle’s incredible sulks as he looks to keep a tight grip on his place in the starting line-up for club and country.

There have been a number of players who have fallen out of favour at St James’ Park in recent times, such as Craig Bellamy, Olivier Bernard and Hugo Viana.

Centre-back O’Brien could have followed suit when manager Graeme Souness signed Jean-Alain Boumsong from Rangers for £8m (€11.6m) last month, resulting in the 25-year-old being dropped to the bench.

With rumours abound Aston Villa were poised to make a move, O’Brien could easily have decided to throw a tantrum and ship himself off to a new club.

Instead, he chose to stay and fight for his place, signing a new one-year contract at the end of last month to further signal his intent.

With Boumsong out injured, it is O’Brien in possession of the shirt again and he has no intention of letting go, particularly as he knows his future at the heart of the Republic back four could in turn be jeopardised.

“I feel more settled now,” insisted O’Brien after riding the storm of a turbulent January and who is almost certain to start in tonight’s friendly against Portugal at Lansdowne Road.

“When I was offered an extension at the club, I was delighted to sign it. Graeme told me I was going nowhere and that he was trying to build a squad system and I am happy to be part of it. I know there is going to be competition for places, but I am not at Newcastle to make up the numbers.

“When Boumsong came in I could have sulked or felt frustrated about it, but it would not have solved any problems. My personal feeling is if I am in the team then I need to maintain my work-rate and if I am out of the team, it is difficult. All I can do is hopefully keep fit and keep my foot in the door.

“But I know it is important I play for Newcastle to maintain my position in the Ireland team. It took me five years to start a qualifying game and I am determined to keep that position.

“Of course things play on your mind. There are players doing well at other clubs, like Richard Dunne, so I do not take it for granted I will be playing.

“I understand how football works. I appreciate the manager can only pick 11 players and it would not only be myself disappointed at not being selected. There would be many others. But the manager picks a team that will win the game and Brian has done that more often than not, so I respect his decision whether it is for or against me.”

O’Brien also feels there may be further rebuilding work undertaken by Souness during the summer, with new strikers a priority if the Bellamy fiasco rumbles on and Alan Shearer does hang up his boots as he is promising.

O’Brien, though, is unsure whether captain Shearer will carry out his threat as he can see both sides of the arguments.

“He keeps on getting asked about it and he keeps on saying it’s old news,” reflected O’Brien.

“He is a single-minded person. We saw that when he made his decision about retiring from international football.

“But he is only 15 goals off Jackie Milburn’s [Newcastle] record (239 goals in 494 appearances) and he is still banging in the goals, so it remains to be seen.

“I have seen the gaffer say he wants him to stay, even if he does not play every game. I am sure they will discuss it between the two of them between now and the end of the season.”