Latest news with #KaseyMcAteer
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
What you might have missed at the weekend
From international debuts to first goals for their countries, here's what you might have missed over the weekend. Leicester City midfielder Kasey McAteer scored his first goal for the Republic of Ireland on Friday in what was his maiden start for the side. Advertisement The Foxes academy graduate got on the end of the goalkeeper's parry to put his side ahead before Senegal equalised in the 82nd minute for a 1-1 draw. Ipswich Town midfielder Jack Taylor also made his first international start for the Republic in the friendly. Nineteen-year-old Birmingham City Under-21s player Menzi Mazwi made his debut for Zimbabwe during their 2-0 loss to South Africa in the COSAFA Cup on Saturday, coming on as a substitute in the 77th minute.
BBC News
14 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
What you might have missed at the weekend
From international debuts to first goals for their countries, here's what you might have missed over the City midfielder Kasey McAteer scored his first goal for the Republic of Ireland on Friday in what was his maiden start for the Foxes academy graduate got on the end of the goalkeeper's parry to put his side ahead before Senegal equalised in the 82nd minute for a 1-1 Town midfielder Jack Taylor also made his first international start for the Republic in the Birmingham City Under-21s player Menzi Mazwi made his debut for Zimbabwe during their 2-0 loss to South Africa in the COSAFA Cup on Saturday, coming on as a substitute in the 77th minute.
The 42
a day ago
- Sport
- The 42
'He just said in the dressing room, I've created a bit of a stir'
IRELAND INTERNATIONAL Kasey McAteer was in buoyant form after producing a man-of-the-match performance in Ireland's 1-1 draw with Senegal. The Leicester star opened the scoring in the 21st minute — McAteer fired home from close range after his initial header had been saved by the opposition goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf. It was the 23-year-old's full Ireland debut and fifth cap in total. 'I know at my best, I can hurt teams, and I tried to do that tonight,' McAteer told reporters on Friday. 'I got some good balls down the side. '[The coaches' message was:] 'Play your game, get at your defender and try and create chances.' I felt that when I got the ball, I tried to do that as much as possible.' The post-match interview was delayed with McAteer receiving some treatment after the game, but the winger said he would be ready to go for Ireland's friendly with Luxembourg on Tuesday. 'When you haven't played a game in two weeks, you can feel it. It might not seem like a long time, but as a player, when you play and train every day, that little break can take it out of you.' Advertisement The special occasion was a welcome boost for McAteer after a frustrating season. He was part of a Leicester City team that were relegated from the Premier League. Demotion to the Championship tends to create uncertainty within a squad, but McAteer believes his long-term future is with the Foxes. 'I've been at Leicester since I was eight years old, so I'd never turn my back on the club. It's a club where I've grown, I've loved, and I've supported. 'I'll get away in the summer, get a holiday, refresh, regroup and start pre-season for Leicester, fighting to get us back into the Premier League, where we deserve to be.' It was also a challenging season for McAteer on a personal level. Of his 18 Premier League appearances, only nine were starts. Although he finished strongly, playing the last four consecutive matches of the campaign from the outset. 'I'd not been in my club side for a few weeks, but recently I have been given the chance to play and I feel like I've grown every week. 'There are a lot of senior players at Leicester, and I respect that. Being home-grown, sometimes it's easy to overlook players like myself, but I've never stopped fighting. I've kept banging down the door to get into the team. 'I got in the team, my first Premier League goal [in a 2-0 win over Ipswich] and a few good results. It wasn't enough because we were already relegated, but I can personally look back with a lot of pride.' And McAteer's better fortune at club level has led to increased involvement on the international stage. He had been left out of previous squads, but was determined to get back on track. 'It was explained to me that it's because I'm not playing at my club that the boys who are playing for their club every weekend — they deserve to play for their country. And I understand that. 'I didn't take it well, I wanted to be here. I want to play as many games as I can, but hopefully I've started putting my stamp on games, coming in and getting on that score sheet, that's the most important thing for myself.' While some may have doubted McAteer, Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson had faith in the player even during the bad times. 'I've regular contact with him, not just when squads are being announced, but when I'm not playing, when I am playing, to see how I'm doing and stuff. And that's really good to get from a manager who's obviously behind me wanting to do well. 'And he just said in the dressing room, I've created a bit of a stir. 'You want your name to be thrown about in conversations around team selections. I wanted to create a ruffle. Hopefully I've done that.'
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Kasey McAteer makes case for Republic of Ireland future with goal on first start after Leicester City setbacks
KASEY McATEER is determined to ensure that he cannot be ignored for neither club nor country. The winger marked his first Ireland start with a goal 2 Kasey McAteer scored on his first Republic of Ireland start against Senegal on Friday 2 Kasey McAteer is eager to become a regular starter for Ireland And he is determined to build on increased minutes for McAteer is planning to stay with the Foxes despite interest from Sunderland, despite believing it can be sometimes harder for a player who has come through the ranks as he has done. He said: 'It doesn't matter. That's the plan. read more on football 'I mean, I've been at Leicester since I was eight years old, so I'd never turn my back on the club. It's a club where I've grown, I've loved, I've supported. 'For now, I'm fully focused on Ireland. I'll get away in the summer, get a holiday, refresh, regroup and start preseason for Leicester fighting and get us back into the Premier League, where we deserve to be. 'Recently I have been given the chance to play and I felt like I've grown every week. 'And you only get better playing football when you're playing every week -- that's a fact. Most read in Football "So hopefully I'll keep getting games on my belt. Get back to pre-season, after our rest, and then, yeah, hit the ground running, hopefully. 'There's a lot of senior players at Leicester and I respect that. Being home-grown sometimes it is easy to overlook players like myself but I've never stopped fighting. Former Man Utd boss Louis van Gaal launches scathing attack on old side while heaping praise on bitter rivals I've kept banging down the door to get in the team. 'I got in the team, my first Premier League goal and a few good results. It wasn't enough because we were already relegated but I can personally look back with a lot of pride. 'In the Championship there will still be 25 players in that squad wanting to play so I've to be fit and strong in pre-training. I know what levels I can get to at my best so they can see me at my best.' McAteer was reluctant to be drawn on whether boss The atmosphere around the club turned sour with the pair unable to spark an improvement in results following their arrival in December. He said: 'It's not nice playing in a stadium when there's a lot of animosity and boos. They pay their hard-earned money, watching us weekly home and away, but for myself it's about taking it and learning. 'Whatever happens with the management is up to the club to decide. All we can do as players is back the manager who is in charge. 'The gaffer didn't give up on us even when we were relegated. We all tried every week. As manager, we'll fight for him so let's see what happens in the future. Brian is a top guy. I texted him on Thursday night to say I was starting. He said good luck and he'd be watching. It's great to have a fellow Irishman at the club.' Right now, the manager he is most concerned about impressing is Hallgrímsson having found himself in and out of the squad as his club fortunes fluctuated. But, with Sammie Szmodics, Chiedozie Ogbene and Mark Sykes all absent, he staked his claim. McAteer said: 'I hadn't started before and I got on the scoresheet. You want your name being thrown about in conversations around team selections. I wanted to create a ruffle. Hopefully I've done that. 'They're all top players f but I know the qualities that I have. I need to believe in myself. 'Those are top players and friends of mine so we'll all be pushing each other for a spot. Sometimes in this game, it can be everyone for themselves but I'm sure whatever happens the squad will be strong. 'The manager just said: 'Play your game.' I mean, I know at my best, I can hurt teams, and I tried to do that. I got some good balls down the side. 'Afterwards, in the dressing room, he said I've created a bit of a stir. So hopefully I can keep that going on and get myself in the starting XI.' CLUB AND COUNTRY On his previous omissions, he said: 'It was explained to me that it's because I'm not playing at my club, that obviously the boys who are playing for their club every weekend, they deserve to play for their country. 'And I understand that. Obviously I didn't take it well, I wanted to be here. I want to play, play as many games as I can. 'I've regular contact with him, not just when squads are being announced. "But when I'm not playing, when I am playing, to see how I'm doing and stuff. And that's really good to get from a manager that's obviously behind me wanting to do well. 'When the gaffer told me I was starting I was really, really happy. And I just hoped that I would prove my best to this team, and to get my first start, my first goal gives me massive confidence. 'Hopefully, I can take that in my stride and keep growing.' His goal came after Matt Doherty and Dara O'Shea had gotten in each other's way trying to get on the end of Will Smallbone's corner before the ball was recycled by He said: 'I think it was flicked on by Nathan, I managed to keep myself onside, flicked it towards the goal. To be fair to the 'keeper, he's made a great save, but luckily for me, it's rebounded back into my path. 'I just took the touch and thought: 'Put my foot through the ball.' That's what I did. And, yeah, great to see that net bulge.' McAteer had his back to goal for the rebound meaning he had to swivel before shooting but he shrugged: 'I knew if I got the touch right, I'd be shooting in a nearly empty net. 'There was too much pace on it for the defender to keep out of the goal. So yeah, I'm really happy. 'My Mum and Dad were here so it was good to see them score my first goal on my first start. That's a moment that I'll cherish forever and they'll cherish forever, no doubt about that.'
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Confidence is growing within Republic of Ireland squad
Republic of Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson believes 'confidence is growing' within his side after a 1-1 draw against Senegal at the Aviva Stadium. Kasey McAteer marked his first start for the Irish by giving them the lead in the first half but Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr struck with nine minutes remaining as it finished honours even. Advertisement Hallgrimsson, though, took heart from how his side carried out his vision to largely stifle a Senegal side who are now 21 matches unbeaten and ranked 19th in the FIFA world rankings. That is 41 places higher than the Republic's current position, having been as high as 28th in October 2019, but Hallgrimsson senses this is a side on the up after making it three games without a defeat. 'There were times where we defended without the ball, we made them look quite average,' Hallgrimsson said. 'But I'm mostly happy that they didn't create a lot of goalscoring chances. 'Let's be honest, we're not one of the best teams in the world and this is how we need to play against teams that will dominate possession. Advertisement 'We need to wait for our chances and take them when they come. In this area, confidence is growing. 'We will need to be patient, these steps are taken small steps at a time but this was really pleasing because if we wouldn't have done this as well as we did, we would have suffered against this team.' Kasey McAteer marked his first international start with a goal (Evan Treacy/PA) The Republic travel to Luxembourg on Tuesday in their final outing before beginning their qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup, with Portugal, Hungry and Armenia their opponents. Hallgrimsson was especially pleased with the display of Leicester's McAteer, who scored his first goal for the Irish in the 21st minute when firing in the rebound after his initial header had been kept out. Advertisement 'If you've watched Kasey, he got a run for Leicester at the end of the season so you can see his club progress and he brought that into the national team,' Hallgrimsson said. 'That's always the answer you would like to have when you try out new players. 'It was a really good first start for him. He's a confident player on the ball, he has speed, good dribbling technique and if we can isolate him going one v one, that is his strength. Ismaila Sarr (centre) levelled for Senegal (Evan Treacy/PA) 'He's just a clever footballer with a good football brain; he knows where to pass the ball and not to pass the ball, etc.' Advertisement A Senegal side without star names such as Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly levelled from close range through Sarr, with Hallgrimsson lamenting the absence of VAR as he felt the FA Cup winner was offside. 'VAR probably would have given it offside but we knew VAR was not in-house so we cannot complain,' the Icelander added. 'I think the referees did a good job, there was a really good flow in the game, so I was happy.'
