RETURN OF THE MAC IS SO CRAZY
Penalty save puts seal on return...
FEW players come back from handing in a transfer request, especially just a week after confirming their intention to leave.
But Grimsby shot-stopper James McKeown is now looking forward after the craziest week in his career, which culminated in a last-minute penalty save to earn his side a valuable point last weekend.
Dropped in favour of young Manchester United loanee Dean Henderson in December and fearing his future at the club was over after five-and-ahalf years, McKeown handed in a transfer request less than a week before deadline day.
Two clubs came close to a deal but, with Grimsby busy trying to get other moves across the line, they fell flat and McKeown stayed put.
Deadline
Then, his luck turned dramatically as United recalled Henderson late last week, handing the gloves back to McKeown.
And, although he did not keep a clean sheet against Luton on his return, the 27year-old made an immediate impact by saving Danny Hylton’s last-minute spot-kick in a 1-1 draw.
“It has been a bit crazy. The Saturday before the match I got my head around the fact that I would probably be leaving, and then on Deadline Day I had to get my head around staying,” he said.
“Two days later, I was told I would play, and then I saved the penalty, so it has been a crazy week.
“From my point of view, I just wanted to give myself an opportunity to play games. I handed in a transfer request and I genuinely believed it was the right thing to do. I am not saying I was going to go and be No. 1 elsewhere, but I wanted a chance. “I felt my chance at Grimsby had gone and that, whatever I did, I would not play again. “It was nice to back it up against Luton because it is so easy to make a mistake as a keeper, and I think it put more pressure on me. “It would have been nice to win and keep a clean sheet, but to save a penalty was the next best thing. It was definitely a strange week.” McKeown joined Grimsby in 2011 from Peterborough and immediately became the club’s first choice under joint managers Rob Scott and Paul Hurst, who had previously coached him at Boston.
Scott left the club two years later, but Hurst stayed and steered the club back into the Football League last season.
However, Shrewsbury hired Hurst midway through October and with a new manager, Marcus Bignot, in place and Henderson ready and waiting on the bench, McKeown admits he felt under pressure.
On Boxing Day, Henderson was given the gloves and played seven games before heading back to Old Trafford.
McKeown is keen to put that spell to the back of his mind and concentrate on impressing Bignot and helping the Mariners push for promotion.
“I spoke to the gaffer on the Friday and he said what has gone, has gone. Now I have a chance to play for the rest of the season,” he added.
“Maybe I am on trial a little bit to prove to him I am good enough.
“If that proves not to be the case and they want someone else long term, then it gives me a chance to show other clubs what I have got if I do move on at the end of the season.
“It is a great chance for me personally. Now, we want to knuckle down and concentrate on making the play-offs.
Concentrate
“Changing managers is not ideal but the aim from both gaffers has been the same – not to go shouting from the rooftops.
“But we believe we have a good squad here and we believe we have a good chance of making the play-offs.
“There are not many teams in this league who have put three or four wins together and, if we can do that, then we will put ourselves right up there.”