Goalie hails O'Brien - exclusive

Last updated : 11 January 2005 By Andy Parsons

Wednesday’s in-form goalkeeper has taken many plaudits this season but he believes that the young midfielder, who has just extended his loan from Bolton, has done exceedingly well after being plunged in at the deep end with The Owls.

O’Brien has been called up for the Ireland Under-19 team to play Italy later in the month and has scored two goals since crossing the Pennines but Lucas, who has had loan spells as a youngster at Darlington and Scunthorpe, was quick to praise the Dubliner.

He told Footymad: “Joey has been playing well. In midfield it is all about working your socks off and most of the work you do can go unnoticed, like the keeper really!

“He hasn’t really had much experience playing first-team football before now; I know for a fact that when I was 18 or 19 I wouldn’t have been able to play for a big club like Wednesday but he has adapted to it well. When I was his age I was playing in front of 3000 at Darlington!

“We all give him a bit of stick and he gives a bit out but if he stays for the full three months then it will benefit both parties in the long run.”

It is all well and good loan players doing well but Lucas deserves praise too. He has been by a mile the most influential goalkeeper in league one this season and he knows when to admit when his form is good.

He says: “I do believe that I am the best goalkeeper in the league; I say that without patting myself on the back too much although I have had a few bad spells this season.

“From the Doncaster game up until now I have been really pleased with my form but I am a confident guy but so are the rest of the team at the moment.”