Wiekens – no go

Last updated : 21 October 2003 By Tony Scholes

The Dutchman signed at Maine Road in the summer of 1997 and turned in a superb performance in a pre-season friendly against Chris Waddle’s Burnley at Turf Moor.

He soon became a popular player with the City fans. He was a consistent defender and could almost be guaranteed to play well. But more recently he has struggled to get a game in the side. He appeared only six times in the Premiership last season and this time round has only a UEFA Cup appearance against TNS.

But that doesn’t mean that Keegan is set to let him go, in fact just the opposite and the manager stressed again that Wiekens is going nowhere.

"I know exactly where I am with Gerard Wiekens," said Keegan yesterday.

"He comes in and trains properly every day. He is delighted when he plays, he is obviously disappointed when he doesn't, but never comes knocking your door down or sulks. He just gets on with things. He is a very good professional, probably one of the best that I've worked with in my career.

"We have got a very strong squad of players here, but we are short at the back because Mikkel Bischoff has had a couple of niggly knocks, so I'd be reluctant to loan anyone out at the minute.

"I would only consider loaning someone out if it was beneficial for us - for instance, if it was one of the young kids who are knocking on the door, or players who need some match practice."

Maybe then with Keegan saying that we can expect Wiekens to arrive at the Turf well in advance of this weekend’s game against Millwall.