Jimmy Crawford has turned his back on England and has returned to the Eircom League to resurrect his career. Crawford, who was recently released by Reading, was on trial at Cardiff City but that did not work out so he took up an offer from League champions Shelbourne to return to Ireland.

The 27-year-old Chicago-born midfielder began his career with Bohemians before making a dream move to Kevin Keegan's Newcastle United in 1995 for £75,000. His progression looked assured at St. James' Gate but then Keegan did away with the club's reserve team which left him out in the cold.

He made three substitute appearances and spent loan spells at Rotherham and Dundee United before he finally got away from Newcastle by joining Tommy Burns' Reading for £50,000 in 1998. His start at Reading was impressive but persistent injuries soon ruined any chance he had of holding down a first-team place.

Burns was sacked and Jimmy was left to prove himself all over again to a new manager. Things didn't work out and now he is looking forward to the challenge ahead in Ireland.

Crawford said: "After I signed for Shels I spent some time dwelling on my career in England and it seemed to consist of nothing but injuries. I had three groin operations and bad knees, which looked serious for a while. The last two years were a write-off.

"I didn't do myself justice and that hurts. People will say Jim Crawford was a failure, but I just have to get on with it and I'm looking forward to the challenge."

The midfielder has no hard feelings about his time in England.

He said: "Kenny Dalglish and Keegan were brilliant to me at Newcastle. They increased my knowledge of the game tenfold and that will stand to me. Then I had the opportunity to go to Reading and Tommy Burns gave me every support there, but the injuries came and that was that.

"The full-time side of the game affected me. I was told to rest my knees but I couldn't afford to do that. My understanding of the game has changed. I'm more knowledgeable about when to make runs and when not to, but my role is still the same - to get stuck in. If that was taken away from me I'd be finished."