Dublin a Mentor to Sheehan

Speaking to the Official Leicester City website Sheehan singled out Dublin, Joey Gudjonsson and Alan Maybury as being particularly helpful, together with Craig Levein and the coaches.

I say interesting because Dublin was the pivotal centre-back when Sheehan played for the first team in their 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday at the Walker’s back on September 10.

Sheehan had a decent game that day and I recall noticing how closely he watched for and responded to the marshalling of Dublin as he controlled the back line.

After that match, and quite inexplicably to me, Sheehan was dropped.

Leicester have since won only three League matches in 20 attempts and played all sorts like Maybury, Nils Eric Johansson, Richard Stearman and Patrik Kisnorbo out of position at left-back in a bid to cement what is perceived as a weak spot by fans.

Sheehan didn’t help his own situation when, selected for the home match against Crewe, he contributed to the visitors’ goal by deflecting a crossover Rab Douglas for an easy heder at the far post. He was criticised (fairly) for not closing the man down fast enough.

Then the 19-year-old Republic of Ireland international was sent off for two bookable offences.

But he still made a generally effective and competent contribution in supporting City’s often threatening attack.

Others were sent off and suspended around the same time. Paddy McCarthy stepped straight back into the side and Danny Tiatto followed.

But Sheehan remained sidelined, and why? He may be no better in defence than some of his rivals but he is easily the best attacking left-back in the club in my view and at a time when we desperately need goals and attacking support for those most likely to score.

He also takes excellent, and much needed free-kicks.

Sheehan has not complained about his treatment. Indeed in the OS interview he says: ‘The gaffer has been good to me and given me my chance and I want to repay him and the rest of the coaching staff.

‘Like any footballer I want to be playing but I have to be patient and that is what I am being at the moment. Next time I get my chance hopefully I can nail the left-back spot once and for all.

I hope so too. Even on the day of his sending off City scored two perfectly good goals against Crewe (though one was disallowed) and the team played some Excellent football in almost totally dominating the match.

Sheehan contributed to this considerably.

He told the OS he had set himself a target of playing 10 first team games this season and is now almost halfway there on four…these including a League cup win and his successful substitution against Bolton when he had a hand in Leicester’s goal and almost made the equaliser for Dublin in his brief appearance.

So arguably the team played well whenever Sheehan played.
And yet, he was villified after the Crewe match and though not referring to it directly on the OS site he said: ‘Some people might think me hot-headed but I’m a competitor and just don’t like losing.

‘I like to get stuck in and I am not going to change because that approach has got me where I am today.’

Even now on City websites there are comments saying we need a left-back.

Truth is we’ve got one.But he’s young and needs a bit of backing while he finds his feet (like everyone else has had whether they’ve played well or not).

As for having to put up with the odd mistake, City fans have been putting up with mistakes all season and not just from the players.