Macca in Team of the Week

Last updated : 13 December 2003 By Tony Scholes

© Burnley FC
Macca missed just about the first three months of the season before appearing on the substitute’s bench last month at Bramall Lane.

But he had to wait until almost two weeks ago to get his first start since the end of last season when he deputised for the suspended Arthur Gnohere at Sunderland. He was impressive, very impressive, at the Stadium of Light and kept his place last Saturday when he partnered Arthur with David May suspended.

No matter how well he played at Sunderland he played better in this match and I cannot recall him being beaten either on the ground or in the air all afternoon and it was something of a surprise to me that he did not win the Man of the Match award.

But his performance has been rewarded with a place in this week’s Nationwide First Division Team and of his performance they said: "Having earned the penalty which brought the winning goal at the end of a pulsating first half in the 3-2 triumph over Sheffield United at Turf Moor, the 26 year-old former Wrexham defender also gave a solid performance after the break to ensure there was no way back for the Blades. A leading role in a combative performance which took the Clarets into mid-table."

McGregor is named in the following side:

Tony Warner (Millwall), Brian O’Neil (Preston), Mark McGregor (Burnley), Dean Lewington (Franchise), Ian Taylor (Derby), Carl Robinson (Rotherham), Jim Magilton (Ipswich), Paul Smith (Gillingham), Nicky Forster (Reading), Dean Windass (Bradford City).