McCarthy's men abroad

An eventful few days for three of the players named in Don Givens' Republic of Ireland under-21 squad last week. Michael Reddy's four goals in six games since he joined them on loan from Sunderland prompted Swindon to inquire about making the move permanent. Peter Reid quoted them a price of £5 million (a shade more than the £30,000 they paid Kilkenny City 18 months ago), but then insisted that he was only joking, that Reddy had a "big future" at Sunderland.

It's not all that long ago that striker Liam George (right) was at the centre of that class of talk, but this season hasn't been the best (five goals in his first 32 appearances). Then Joe Kinnear paid him a few public compliments on his appointment as Luton manager and, voila, confidence very nearly restored: he's scored two in his last two.

Stoke's James O'Connor is a combative midfielder, Brian, by trade and has also scored in his last two games, the latest in the derby against Port Vale on Saturday. But he hit another landmark in that game - he took his season's tally of yellow cards into double figures. Ten months ago he was hauled before the FA to account for his poor disciplinary record, but he escaped with a slap on the wrist after promising to be a good lad. We feel a fine coming on.