O’neill to check on Rose after racism ordeal

LONDON: Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill plans to give Danny Rose as much time as possible to recover from his racism ordeal before deciding whether the England Under-21 defender is in the right frame of mind to play in today’s derby against Newcastle.

Rose was forced to endure sickening racist taunts from Serbian supporters during England Under-21s’ 10 win in a European Championship playoff tie in Krusevac on Tuesday and has admitted to being shocked by the experience.

The 22-year-old, who is on loan at Sunderland from Tottenham, was eventually sent off after the final whistle for kicking the ball away in frustration after 90 minutes of constant abuse.

He returned to Sunderland on Thursday and O’Neill will sit down for a chat with the leftback to judge his mental state before making a final call on his participation in a potentially stormy clash with local rivals Newcastle.

“I will give him the opportunity just to let things lie for a day or two and I will speak to him closer to the time and see what frame of mind he is in,” O’Neill said on Thursday.

“You are hoping that young players who might not have experienced things like that there before can respond positively. I am sure he will do and hopefully at some stage or another, he will take it in his stride. But I would just really point out that everybody here at the football club, and I amquite sure at his own football club, is very much on his side.”

As well as the racist taunts, Tuesday’s match also featured Rose, his England team-mates and their coaching staff becoming embroiled in an ugly brawl with their Serbian counterparts on the pitch after the final whistle.

Both national associations have since been charged by UEFA in connection with the incident with the Serbian FA, to the astonishment of their English counterparts, having branded Rose’s behaviour “inappropriate, unsportsmanlike and vulgar”.

O’Neill revealed Rose remains furious with his treatment and the Sunderland boss added his voice to the condemnation of the shocking scenes.

“He is naturally disappointed with the state of affairs, and somewhat angry as well, but I amsure there will be a lot more said about it in the next few days,” O’Neill added.

“Maybe until we get the full picture, from my viewpoint maybe the less said, other than the fact that I think it’s been very, very disappointing, particularly considering the efforts that have gone in over the last couple of seasons here to eradicate racism from our game.

“It is a difficult situation for him and I have obviously the utmost sympathy for and empathy with him.

“It’s something he shouldn’t have to endure, and that goes for all concerned.”