Albion midfielder regrets playing
By Andy Naylor
GEORGE O'Callaghan admitted today he has only himself to blame for losing his place with Albion.
O'Callaghan was so desperate to face his old club Port Vale that he let his heart rule his head and declared himself fit, despite struggling with a hamstring tear.
The Irish midfielder made the damage worse in the 1-0 victory at Vale Park earlier this month, forcing him out of the last two matches against Leeds and Hartlepool.
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O'Callaghan said: "It obviously made it a lot worse and I don't think I did myself any favours but it was a game I was desperate to play in.
"I've done myself damage and maybe I should be a bit more experienced to know not to do that but I had waited so long to go back there and I might never get the chance again. It was a bit of a mistake but it is done now and I just have to get over it."
O'Callaghan resumed training with Albion yesterday after returning to parent club Ipswich for treatment.
He is eager to win his place back from Tommy Fraser in the centre of the park as the Seagulls prepare for Saturday's home game against Ipswich.
"The hamstring feels good," he said. "Ipswich just kept me until I was match fit again. They have sent me back now and I am ready to play, so I am just looking forward to getting back into the games again.
"I had a tear in my hamstring but, because I played with it for two or three weeks, there was about 14 centimetres of blood and fluid around it, so I had to wait until that all healed up. It's fine now and I am delighted to be back fit.
"The lads have done well in the last couple of games, so I think I have got a fight on my hands.
"Tommy is a smashing player and fair play to him, he has got his chance and taken it. That is what it is all about.
"The club needs competition for places but I've come back to play games, I won't be sitting on the bench.
"That is the most important thing for me. I could sit in the Championship on the bench but I don't want to do that. We'll just see what happens in the next week or two."
Reading the last two lines it does seem to say if I dont play Im off.
By Andy Naylor
GEORGE O'Callaghan admitted today he has only himself to blame for losing his place with Albion.
O'Callaghan was so desperate to face his old club Port Vale that he let his heart rule his head and declared himself fit, despite struggling with a hamstring tear.
The Irish midfielder made the damage worse in the 1-0 victory at Vale Park earlier this month, forcing him out of the last two matches against Leeds and Hartlepool.
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O'Callaghan said: "It obviously made it a lot worse and I don't think I did myself any favours but it was a game I was desperate to play in.
"I've done myself damage and maybe I should be a bit more experienced to know not to do that but I had waited so long to go back there and I might never get the chance again. It was a bit of a mistake but it is done now and I just have to get over it."
O'Callaghan resumed training with Albion yesterday after returning to parent club Ipswich for treatment.
He is eager to win his place back from Tommy Fraser in the centre of the park as the Seagulls prepare for Saturday's home game against Ipswich.
"The hamstring feels good," he said. "Ipswich just kept me until I was match fit again. They have sent me back now and I am ready to play, so I am just looking forward to getting back into the games again.
"I had a tear in my hamstring but, because I played with it for two or three weeks, there was about 14 centimetres of blood and fluid around it, so I had to wait until that all healed up. It's fine now and I am delighted to be back fit.
"The lads have done well in the last couple of games, so I think I have got a fight on my hands.
"Tommy is a smashing player and fair play to him, he has got his chance and taken it. That is what it is all about.
"The club needs competition for places but I've come back to play games, I won't be sitting on the bench.
"That is the most important thing for me. I could sit in the Championship on the bench but I don't want to do that. We'll just see what happens in the next week or two."
Reading the last two lines it does seem to say if I dont play Im off.
