The Scout's Report

PREMIER LEAGUE: David Meyler (Sunderland)

Signed from Cork City in the summer of 2008, Meyler has broken into Steve Bruce’s first team at the Stadium of Light over the past few weeks. The 20-year-old midfielder has now started three games in a row and is on the verge of penning a new long-term deal with the Black Cats. Some Sunderland fans are still unconvinced, with memories of the rash challenge which saw him sent off during a vital game against Portsmouth in February still fresh.

However, others believe he’s been central to the recent upturn in their fortunes, with essayfc on readytogo.net writing, “Meyler has made a big contribution in arresting our slide down the table this season, and for that reason he is very much in ahead of Cana and Cattermole who have both flattered to deceive this season. I realise that it is most supporters dream that [Lorik] Cana and [Lee] Cattermole will forge a dynamic midfield partnership but on the evidence so far the unknown Irish lad is leaving them for dead.”

CHAMPIONSHIP: Leon Best (Newcastle Utd)

Newcastle United may have wrapped up the Coca-Cola Championship title on Monday night but Best is still struggling to find his best form with the Magpies. The Ireland international moved to St James’s Park in January but has yet to register a goal for his new club. He has occasionally looked a potentially decent foil for Robbie Keane on the international stage over the past 12 months, and started the season brightly at Coventry, scoring nine goals before the end of November.

However, no goals in 12 Newcastle appearances suggests that he’s found the tradition to Tyneside difficult – he’s not the first about which that can be said, and he won’t be the last. Newcastle and Ireland fans alike will hope he can deliver the goods when the Magpies return to Premier League action in August.

Ireland international Leon Best has struggled for top form
at Newcastle United over the past three months

LEAGUE 1: Gary Doherty (Norwich City)

Ah, the Ginger Pele himself is back in business. Doherty was something of a joke figure down the years with Ireland, seemingly ploughing a similarly inept furrow whether he was stationed at centre half or centre forward. He was part of the Norwich side relegated from the Championship last May and the start of the new season brought little cheer – he was manning the centre of a defence which sprung a Titanic-sized leak in a 7-1 home defeat to Colchester on opening day.

The former Spurs and Luton player appeared to be locked in an endless downward spiral when he was dropped by new manager Paul Lambert soon afterwards, but has since recovered to become a key player in the Canaries’ ascent: he has started 35 games and Norwich confirmed their promotion back to the Championship with a 1-0 win at Charlton last Saturday.

LEAGUE 2: Stephen Dawson (Bury)

The former Ireland under-21 midfielder faced an uncertain future when he was part of the Mansfield Town side which dropped out of the Football League two years ago. Snapped up by Bury, he has become a central figure in the team, starting all but one of the Shakers’ 43 League Two games this season. Dawson, a 24-year-old midfielder, will be hoping to finish the season with a bang – Bury lie in fifth with three games remaining and are on course for a place in the play-offs.