Yorkshire Evening Post 15/8/11
Keogh raring to get going INTERVIEW
By Leon Wobschall
Andy Keogh can’t wait for his second coming at Leeds United to get underway, with the Irishman in line for his home debut against Hull City tonight – nine years after joining the club.
The 25-year-old Wolves forward has returned to the Whites, the club where he started his career as a scholar in 2002, on loan until January 2 and is expected to be thrown straight in against the Tigers this evening.
After two successive Championship defeats, United are desperate for lift-off as they aim to avoid a third consecutive league loss at the start of the season for the first time in exactly 75 years, since 1936-37.
And Keogh may not be the only arrival on the strikers’ front this week, with United running the rule over free agent Mikael Forssell, with the former Chelsea and Birmingham City frontman, 30, currently training with the club.
For Republic of Ireland international Keogh, it’s very much a case of proving a point, having been on the periphery in his first spell at United – where his solitary appearance came as a substitute in a Carling Cup tie at Portsmouth in 2004.
Raring to go second time around, Keogh, linked with a move to United last summer, said: “I can’t believe it’s come up. I need games as well, so it’s perfect. This is where I started, it’s great to be back.
“I know about the club. I was here in what you could call the good old days and left just as things started to go downhill.
“I was disappointed I never got a fair chance here. I thought I was sold (to Scunthorpe in 2005) too quickly. I understand what it was like back then, but it’s good to be back and have a chance to play in the first team again.
“Every player wants to prove something and I’m no different. I feel I was let go too early and didn’t get the chance to show what I can do.”
Keogh – who has a year left on his Wolves deal – is well down the pecking order at Molineux, with his days in the Black Country looking numbered.
Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey has revealed the loan could become a permanent transfer in the future, having initially been flexible to United’s situation with the club suffering a striker shortage with Luciano Becchio and Davide Somma injured and Billy Paynter also struggling.
Moxey added: “We’re of the view that we’d prefer a sale for his sake, but Leeds need some help more than anything, so this loan is a good arrangement for everyone.”
Keogh will be hoping for better luck than his previous loan spell at Bristol City in the second half of last season, which saw him score just once in nine outings before returning to the Midlands with a back injury.
Earlier on in 2010-11, he only managed two goals in 16 games in a separate loan stint at Cardiff City, where he struggled for opportunities behind Jay Bothroyd and Michael Chopra.
But the industrious attacker – also strongly linked with Doncaster Rovers last season – is well regarded by many Championship clubs, while also being a regular in the Ireland set-up under Giovanni Trappatoni, who used him as a sub in last week’s friendly with Croatia.
Capped 22 times, the Dubliner, whose best position is deemed to be as a support striker, is also able to operate on both flanks.
Finland international striker Forssell, whose contract with German side Hannover expired earlier this summer, has linked up with United following an unsuccessful close-season trial at West Ham.
Suspended skipper Jonathan Howson misses his first league game since May 2010 this evening.
Keogh raring to get going INTERVIEW
By Leon Wobschall
Andy Keogh can’t wait for his second coming at Leeds United to get underway, with the Irishman in line for his home debut against Hull City tonight – nine years after joining the club.
The 25-year-old Wolves forward has returned to the Whites, the club where he started his career as a scholar in 2002, on loan until January 2 and is expected to be thrown straight in against the Tigers this evening.
After two successive Championship defeats, United are desperate for lift-off as they aim to avoid a third consecutive league loss at the start of the season for the first time in exactly 75 years, since 1936-37.
And Keogh may not be the only arrival on the strikers’ front this week, with United running the rule over free agent Mikael Forssell, with the former Chelsea and Birmingham City frontman, 30, currently training with the club.
For Republic of Ireland international Keogh, it’s very much a case of proving a point, having been on the periphery in his first spell at United – where his solitary appearance came as a substitute in a Carling Cup tie at Portsmouth in 2004.
Raring to go second time around, Keogh, linked with a move to United last summer, said: “I can’t believe it’s come up. I need games as well, so it’s perfect. This is where I started, it’s great to be back.
“I know about the club. I was here in what you could call the good old days and left just as things started to go downhill.
“I was disappointed I never got a fair chance here. I thought I was sold (to Scunthorpe in 2005) too quickly. I understand what it was like back then, but it’s good to be back and have a chance to play in the first team again.
“Every player wants to prove something and I’m no different. I feel I was let go too early and didn’t get the chance to show what I can do.”
Keogh – who has a year left on his Wolves deal – is well down the pecking order at Molineux, with his days in the Black Country looking numbered.
Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey has revealed the loan could become a permanent transfer in the future, having initially been flexible to United’s situation with the club suffering a striker shortage with Luciano Becchio and Davide Somma injured and Billy Paynter also struggling.
Moxey added: “We’re of the view that we’d prefer a sale for his sake, but Leeds need some help more than anything, so this loan is a good arrangement for everyone.”
Keogh will be hoping for better luck than his previous loan spell at Bristol City in the second half of last season, which saw him score just once in nine outings before returning to the Midlands with a back injury.
Earlier on in 2010-11, he only managed two goals in 16 games in a separate loan stint at Cardiff City, where he struggled for opportunities behind Jay Bothroyd and Michael Chopra.
But the industrious attacker – also strongly linked with Doncaster Rovers last season – is well regarded by many Championship clubs, while also being a regular in the Ireland set-up under Giovanni Trappatoni, who used him as a sub in last week’s friendly with Croatia.
Capped 22 times, the Dubliner, whose best position is deemed to be as a support striker, is also able to operate on both flanks.
Finland international striker Forssell, whose contract with German side Hannover expired earlier this summer, has linked up with United following an unsuccessful close-season trial at West Ham.
Suspended skipper Jonathan Howson misses his first league game since May 2010 this evening.