Smallbone eager to learn from O’Shea and Kerr

Will Smallbone was five years old when Brian Kerr last stood on the sidelines for a senior Ireland international but the Southampton midfielder has enjoyed getting to know the 71-year-old who returned to the management set-up for Saturday’s creditable 0-0 draw against Belgium.

Kerr was cheered by the Lansdowne Road crowd when he appeared on the big screen and Smallbone has been impressed by the Dubliner’s impact in his role as a technical adviser to interim head coach John O’Shea and his staff.

“He’s been really good,” said the 24-year-old. “He has done a bit in the background at times but he gave a really good speech the night before the game where he spoke a lot about his experiences. Obviously, he has countless experiences.

“He spoke really well. He is there for the lads (in the backroom team), if they need an older head who has been there and seen it all.”

Smallbone has also tried to soak up as much experience from O’Shea across this international window and described the atmosphere in the camp as “very positive” ahead of tomorrow’s game against Switzerland.

Positive

“Obviously it’s only (been) one game, but in the week we’ve had I think it’s been very positive and hopefully we can go now and get a positive result for him.

“No matter who is in charge you turn up to play for your country, it’s the greatest honour. No matter who is in charge you will give your all for them and I think with John being the person and the man he is, everybody has a huge amount of respect for him.

“I can’t speak highly enough of him throughout my whole career, not just this past week but for everything he has done for me. He’s been brilliant.”

Having also worked with the 42-year-old Waterford man at U-21 level, as well as with Stoke City, Smallbone says O’Shea’s record as a player, with five Premier League titles and a Champions League medal, commands respect in the dressing room.

“He’s a good man-manager. He’s obviously got an abundance of experience from his playing days and I think him getting that across in a managerial way is very important,” said Smallbone, who won his seventh senior cap in Saturday night’s draw.

“When you hear from different managers that haven’t maybe been there or played, it’s different to when you’d speak to like – a John O’Shea – who has been there at the top level for many years. He knows exactly what you guys are going through as players.

“He’s been brilliant this week and has got his message across clearly.

“John has a very good (backroom) team in place, Paddy (McCarthy), Glenn (Whelan) and with Brian (Kerr) there too, he has an older head to lean on. It has been a very good balance so far.”