Wednesday Diary — Mackie’s morning after, Preston sign three, weekend tube closures
Thursday, 18th Nov 2010 00:24 by Clive Whittingham

Jamie Mackie has been reflecting on his first ever Scotland goal against the Faroe Islands in Aberdeen on Tuesday night.

News

Mackie told the Daily Record: “It was a beautiful feeling when the ball hit the net. It was nice to get the tap-in and open my account. Hopefully there are many more goals to come for Scotland.There's an element of pressure when you come into the squad because you're asked to perform. I wanted to show everyone what I'm about to make sure I stay in the squad. The pressure is from myself and I'm pleased with how I did.

"Against the Czechs I was asked to fill a role which wasn't my natural position. I'm a striker but physically I was able to play wide and I thought I coped well. But up front is my favourite position and hopefully I'll play there again. It's a different level with international football. The Championship is extremely competitive and sets you up well but I want to play in the Premiership. Hopefully I can keep doing well for my club side and country. I could have scored more goals in the second half and I was a bit disappointed not to get more than one. I'm greedy - I'm a striker and that's how I will always be. The fact I hadn't scored for a while wasn't on my mind. I've been playing right-back for two of the last three games for QPR.

"I haven't really been at that end of the park. I haven't played up front all season, only on the right. It doesn't prey on my mind. I'll look to keep playing well and the goals will arrive. But it was good to score here. It gives you a taste of that feeling and hopefully I'll get on the goal trail again. I've taken some stick from my QPR team-mates but the manager Neil Warnock has been great. He said Scotland was a great chance for me. It has always been on my mind that I can play for Scotland and my family are extremely proud. There are some good players coming through now and that can only be good for Scottish football."

Mackie may find himself playing back in attack with Heidar Helguson this weekend after the Icelandic international returned to training after four games out with a neck and shoulder injury. Rangers will leave it as late as possible to assess Helguson’s fitness for the game at home against Preston North End this Saturday.

Shaun Derry though is definitely out serving a one match suspension for accumulating five bookings. The final one of those came in the very last minute of our game against Nottingham Forest on Saturday meaning Derry misses the visit of bottom placed Preston rather than top of the table Cardiff a week later and while he stopped short of admitting it was a deliberate act, Derry did admit it had worked out well for him.

He told the Kilburn Times: “Everybody who watches me knows the type of player I am – I’m going to collect suspensions along the way. But with the greatest respect to Preston I’d rather miss that game than the Cardiff game. I’m disappointed to miss any game, but as it’s turned out I’m delighted to be available for selection against Cardiff. The Championship is a tough grind and you don’t get anywhere in November, it’s May when it counts.

“I’d be very surprised if one or two others didn’t come into the frame as well. There are a number of teams in the Championship capable of getting into those top three or four places. Teams like Portsmouth have shown they’re more than capable of stringing results together, so are Norwich and Swansea. It’s so important that we stick in and around the top places.”

Also speaking to the Kilburn Times today, manager Neil Warnock has praised the work of his two goalkeeper Radek Cerny and Paddy Kenny – Rangers have already kept ten clean sheets in the league this term. Warnock said: “I’ve never had two really good keepers at a club, but I’m very happy with Radek. He’s the best number two I’ve ever had while I’ve been a manager. And I wouldn’t swap Paddy for anyone in the Premier League. I think he was harshly treated in his ban. For me it was trivial and people have made an example of him, which was wrong. I think he’s come back in the right way and this is a new challenge for him – he comes into training with a smile on his face and he’s playing like that as well.”

Former R’s

Burnley defender Clarke Carlisle has been named as the new chairman of the professional Footballer’s Association. The role has been held by Leicester player coach Chris Powell for the last five years but will now be taken up by Carlisle, who infamously overcame alcohol addiction during his time with QPR.

Carlisle said: “What an honour and a privilege it is for me to have this role bestowed upon me. I am proud to have been appointed chairman of what is a fantastic union backed by an incredible work force. I would like to thank Chris for the magnificent job he has done in his five years in the chair. He has been exemplary throughout his tenure. Not only is he an upstanding citizen, he is a fantastic role model for players and the general community. There has been no better person to talk to and learn from in terms of the role I am about to undertake.”

Danny Parejo is urging the board of his current club Getafe to keep faith with their manager. Getafe are currently 11th in La Liga but are bottom of their Europa League group and are without a win in five matches leading to pressure on boss Michel. Parejo said: “Michel needs to be calm. We have shown that we are with him and that we will support him. We are professional about this and we have to take the situation forward. We have gone five games without winning, including the Copa del Rey. Our morale is a little low. However, we must be confident that we can beat Zaragoza and bring this bad streak to an end. If the team knew the reasons for our bad run, we would have attempted to solve the problem."

Peter Crouch scored the only goal for England as they lost 2-1 to France in a friendly match at Wembley this evening. Crouch had been on the field for less than a minute as a later sub when he volleyed home at the back post.

Championship Shorts

- QPR beware, Preston have not taken sinking to the bottom of the table lightly. Darren Ferguson today added three new faces to his line up on loan with Stoke duo Michael Tonge and Danny Pugh signing for a month and Man Utd defender Ritchie De Laet joining on an emergency loan. All three will make their debuts at Loftus Road this Saturday.

- Millwall have signed former MK Dons winger Jason Puncheon on loan from league One side Southampton. Puncheon came to the attention of bigger clubs when playing on the wing for Barnet but has yet to really fulfil his potential at either Plymouth, MK Dons or Southampton. Kenny Jackett is also hoping to tie up a deal for Palace striker Calvin Andrew. Both could make their debuts this weekend against Middlesbrough.

- Leicester say they are yet to receive an offer from Hull for out of favour striker Matty Fryatt. Assistant manager Derek Fazackerley says the player is frustrated at being out of the team but has not asked to leave. He said: “I don't think Matty's expressed any desire to leave. But he is probably a little bit frustrated that he isn't getting as much football as he would like."

- Portsmouth have extended Greg Halford’s loan from Wolves for a further month.

Parish Noticeboard

Weekend train and tube closures:

- The Circle Line is completely closed all weekend due to track work.

- The Hammersmith and City Line will run between Hammersmith and Edgware Road, but will not serve Baker Street, Euston, Kings Cross, St Pancras or Liverpool Street. The line is suspended between Edgware Road and Barking due to track work.

- The Metropolitan Line will not run between Baker Street and Aldgate or Harrow-on-the-Hill and Uxbridge because of line work.

- There will be no District Line between Embankment and Upminster due to engineering work.

- The Piccadilly Line is closed between South Harrow and Uxbridge.

- There is no DLR service between Canary Wharf and Stratford, and no DLR services are calling at Bank this weekend.

- And finally for those that like a pint or two after a game, be aware that Overground services from Shepherds Bush station to Clapham Junction and Willesden Junction will stop at 7.45pm.

Photo: Action Images

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