Irish player of the week

Before we announce our eagerly anticipated, much trumpeted and highly cherished player of the week award allow us first to give an honourable mention to Hibernian goalkeeper Nick Colgan, man-of-the-match in Saturday's scoreless draw at Dundee United. After moving from Drogheda to Chelsea eight years ago Colgan, now 26, spent a bewildering amount of time on benches at Chelsea, Crewe, Grimsby, Millwall, Brentford, Reading and Bournemouth, but then moved to Hibs last summer, made his debut in August and, since November, has established himself as first choice goalkeeper for the first time in his cross-channel career. A patient man.

Back in week eight of the Planet Football season we made Luton Town striker Liam George our player of the week and, predictably, his form slumped after that (10 goals in his first 13 starts, one in his next 13). But manager Lennie Lawrence kept faith in the player who scored Ireland's winning penalty in the shoot-out at the end of the 1998 under-18 European Championships final against Germany, offered him a new contract and on Saturday he scored twice against Reading. Slump over, we hope.