Irish player of the week

"Dear Santa, all I want for Christmas is a goal on Stephen's Day," wrote Roy Keane (Manchester United), Robbie Keane (Coventry), Lee Carsley (Blackburn), Sean McCarthy and Paul McGregor (Plymouth), John Durnin (Carlisle), Kieron Durkan (Macclesfield), Sean Devine (Wycombe), Graham Kavanagh (Stoke), Martin Rowlands (Brentford), Kevin Nugent (Cardiff) and Barry Conlon (York City). Fair play to trusty auld Santa, he didn't let them down: all 12 were amongst the goals in yesterday's English games. And Sheffield Wednesday's Mark McKeever - who asked the bearded one for a first team start and three much-needed points for Christmas - wasn't disappointed either (Wednesday, with the help of the Irish under-21 international, picked up only their second win of the season at home to Middlesbrough).

For this week's award, though, we're opting for a player who needs all the cheering up he can get at the moment: Jeff Kenna's 19-year-old brother Warren, a promising centre back at Peterborough, who suffered a suspected broken ankle and severe ankle ligament damage while making his debut for Cambridge City at the start of a loan spell. Thanks to Francy Devine for the news: get well soon Warren (send him a message through the PoshNet website at: www.freespace.virgin.net/mick.bratley/POW/posh.htm).