Another loan from Sunderland?

13 November 2001

According to today's (Irish) Star, Irish U-21 midfielder Thomas Butler is on his way to West Brom from Sunderland on loan with the view to a permanent move. The Baggies were alerted to the 20-year-old midfielder by Irish U-21 boss Don Givens, who has frequently expressed the view that his U-21 charges would be better off leaving "the safety net of a healthy Premiership wage" for regular football.

If this is true it is good news on a number of fronts. Firstly, Butler is a genuinely exciting prospect, and secondly if Givens is giving us the nod about young Irish players it's got to be a good thing, saves me banging on on the mailing list about James O'Connor, Liam George etc etc.

 - Fergus McCormack

Previous Stories:

  30 October 2001:  Rosler joins on loan

  30 October 2001:  It gets worse...

  30 October 2001:  No go for Dichio

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