Reddy set for Defoe showdown - February 20, 2001
As loans go, Jermaine Defoe's time at Bournemouth will be long remembered by the club's fans - but Graiguenamanagh's Michael Reddy plans to eclipse him with Swindon if he is not recalled to Sunderland.
Defoe's 14 goals in 16 appearances looks untouchable but Reddy already has four for Swindon in six games and the young Irishman is ready to shoot for more.
The players get a chance to weigh up each other tonight when Swindon play host to Bournemouth at the County Ground tonight.
Swindon were knee-deep in the Second Division relegation zone before Reddy agreed to join but since then they have hit form and are moving away to safety.
Swindon manager Andy King knows what Reddy is capable of as he was the man who discovered him in Ireland while he was working as a Sunderland scout.
King believes Michael can emulate Defoe if given the chance but the Swindon boss has other things on his mind at the moment as he fears an early recall to the Stadium of Light for the player.
King approached Sunderland in a bid to sign Reddy but he will readily admit that it was only a shot in the dark because of Peter Reid's appreciation of the striker. Reid responded by slapping a £5 million price tag on Reddy's head!
Reddy said: "I've scored four goals in six games since I came on loan and I'm looking forward to staying for another month.
"This division is more physical than reserve team football with Sunderland so it's good experience. I've heard all about Jermaine Defoe. I've got some way to go before I reach his tally. He's only going to get more because he's there until the end of the season and I've probably only got a maximum of three months.
"But a goal a game is what you've got to aim for so we'll both be desperate to score again tomorrow."
Andy King said: "Michael has been fantastic for us and I was always confident that he could do for us what Defoe has done for Bournemouth. He's doing that and long may it continue."