O’BRIEN’S STILL AT HEART OF COUNTY
MARK O’BRIEN’S playing days are behind him, but the 31-year-old Dubliner still has a crucial role to play in Newport County’s bid for another big FA Cup scalp.
The former centre-half played in games against Leeds, Tottenham, Leicester, Middlesbrough and Manchester City, before a second heart operation brought his career to a premature end in the summer of 2020.
He is now Newport’s Player Care Officer and is busy this week ensuring that spirits remain high in Graham Coughlan’s squad.
“Personally I love it. I feel the buzz of it,” he says of this week’s build-up to the visit of United.
“You sometimes lose that buzz when you stop playing football, but after the Eastleigh game, knowing we were going to play Manchester United, I was celebrating like I was one of the players. “I’ve been lucky enough to be involved against Leeds, Tottenham, Leicester, Middlesbrough and Man City. It just brings a buzz back to the place again.
“On one hand it makes you wish you are still playing, but on the other hand it’s great seeing the lads taking their opportunities, and they deserve it.
“They are a team in form and they can potentially go out and cause a big upset. There is always that feeling that anything can happen, because we have done it before.”
He praised the work ethic within the Newport camp, saying: “It’s my style of club where you have to dig in deep and work hard. It’s about grit and determination.
“You aren’t getting spoiled as a footballer. You earn everything you get. If you put the work in and you buy into this, then dreams are made.
“When we played Manchester City the squad that we had was worth £80,000 in and there was £670m playing next to us. You shouldn’t be on the same pitch.
“But when you buy into the Newport way it is just one of those where these things gravitate towards you. That’s what Newport is.”
Manager Graham Coughlan might still be a regular at Old Trafford – but for 90 minutes tomorrow the Dubliner will do his best to add to the pressure on their under-fire manager Erik ten Hag.
“I’ve been up to see them on numerous occasions,” says Coughlan, when asked if he has watched United this season.
Looking ahead to tomorrow, he says: “It will be a great occasion and my family, they are all Man United fans. It’s unbelievable to be stood on the sideline against such a club.”