Ex QPR Liam O'Brien goes out on loan

The Argus

Borough land England international - with a little help from a former Albion favourite

Friday 10th September 2010 By Steve Hollis »

Eastbourne Borough have a former Albion favourite to thank for landing England under-19 goalkeeper Liam O’Brien on a month’s loan.

Ex-Seagulls stopper John Keeley was at Priory Lane last Saturday to see Rikki Banks dismissed against Darlington and wasted little time recommending O’Brien as a potential replacement to Borough’s goalkeeping coach Dean Lightwood.

O’Brien turned down Arsenal, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Manchester City before joining Portsmouth, where Keeley is goalkeeping coach, from QPR two years ago and is being tipped as a star of the future.

The 18-year-old, who will make his debut at Barrow tomorrow, has yet to make a first team appearance for the Championship outfit and with Pompey ditching their reserve side to save money this season he had no hesitation in coming to Sussex.

Head coach Nick Greenwood said: “John comes to watch us regularly and has a good relationship with Dean Lightwood which played a crucial part in getting Liam.

“It is a real coup for Eastbourne. We had other options but you can’t do much better than signing an England under-19 international so we are delighted.

“Liam is very highly rated at Portsmouth and has been on the bench for all of their games so far this season. As Portsmouth don’t have a reserve team he is keen to get some games under his belt and this is a great opportunity for him to get the experience of playing in a very tough, competitive league.

“It should be very beneficial for his development and I think that is why John was keen for him to come to us.”

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