Butler glimpses past as he looks to the future

Feb 2 2008 by Phil Blanche, Western Mail

SWANSEA CITY winger Tom Butler will get a blast from his childhood past when he peers into the Oldham dug-out today.

Irishman Butler, so often a fringe figure in his two seasons at the Liberty Stadium, is poised for an extended first-team run with Swansea’s resources in wide areas depleted by injuries to Paul Anderson and Andrea Orlandi.

But if the future suddenly seems bright for the 26-year-old Dubliner, part of Butler’s youth will be in the Oldham corner today as Latics boss John Sheridan plots to end Swansea’s dozen-game unbeaten league run.

Sheridan, the former Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday midfielder, graced both the 1990 and 1994 World Cups for the Republic of Ireland and Butler recalls what it was like back home at the time.

“We went on decent runs in those tournaments and the whole country came alive,” said Butler.

“They were fantastic times and, as a kid in those World Cups, I remember collecting the little stickers and having my own sticker box.

“I think everyone wanted the Roy Keane sticker in ‘94, but it was great to get the whole team, because it was a good side with people like John Sheridan, Niall Quinn, John Aldridge and Ray Houghton.”

More than a decade on, Sheridan, like his Swans counterpart Roberto Martinez, has been labelled one of the brightest young managers in the lower leagues.

The 43-year-old guided Oldham into the League One play-offs last season and, although they are currently in the bottom half of the table, Sheridan has them pointing in the right direction after a sluggish start.

Oldham have not lost on the road since November 3, a nine-game sequence of seven wins and two draws which includes league victories at Tranmere and Leeds and a memorable third-round FA Cup triumph at Everton.

It has led some seasoned observers to suggest that Sheridan could even be a future Ireland manager down the line.

“He’s just started in management so he’s got a long way to go, but he’s done well at Oldham and perhaps it’s something he could do in years to come,” said Butler.

“I’m sure he would never rule it out, it’s a great job, regardless of where you’re from or at where you are in your career at that moment.”

Butler’s own international aspirations – and building on his two appearances for the Republic in 2002 – would seem to rest on Swansea escaping League One and climbing into the Championship.

The 26-year-old admits that with players like Damien Duff, Andy Reid and Sunderland’s Darryl Murphy available in his position it will be hard for him to force his way back into the Republic reckoning.

But he said, “You have a chance if you’re in the Championship – and that’s what we’re aiming for at Swansea City.

“'In my book, it’s miles away right now because your club football has to be consistent.

“I have to play week-in and week-out at a higher level, but, if you do that, then you can start thinking about international football.”

At least Butler – who is currently in talks with Swansea about a new contract – has been more involved this term after his first season was blighted by injury and patchy form.

He has figured in every game in 2008, either from the start or off the bench, and is halfway to meeting the pre-season target of 10 goals set by his manager Roberto Martinez.

“I’ve never scored too many in my career, but I’ve started off quite well and got five so far,” said Butler.

“Hopefully, I can just keep it going. I think that target is achievable, but the main thing is winning games and getting promoted.

“It’s going to be difficult with all the expectation that comes with a 10-point lead, and there’s still a long way to go yet.

“Every team in the league is difficult, even the ones at the bottom because they’re scrapping for their lives. I think they’re the hardest teams to play against.

“Teams like Doncaster and Forest let you play, but we’ve still got to go to places like Huddersfield and Hartlepool and they never make it easy for you.

“But we just need to apply ourselves like we have been doing and keep the tempo high in order to break teams down.”

Martinez must decide whether to stick with the 4-4-2 formation successfully deployed at Doncaster and Forest or revert to the 4-3-3 system which has served Swansea so well at home.

If he does opt for an extra midfielder with Darren Pratley completing his two-game ban, Kris O’Leary, Joe Allen and Darren Way will be in a three-way battle to replace Spanish striker Guillem Bauza.

“I was pleased with our performance at Forest, but there was a lack of edge after three games in six days,” said Martinez.

“That was the reason we didn’t score goal at Forest because we normally would when we’re in control of games like that.”

Martinez again has to conquer the curse of the manager-of-the-month award after picking up the accolade for January – the third time has scooped the prize this season.

On the previous two occasions Swansea failed to win their next game – having to settle for 1-1 home draws against Gillingham and Havant & Waterlooville.

There is also the small matter of revenge as Oldham’s 2-1 home victory over Swansea in August made them one of only four teams to beat Martinez’s men in the league this season.

“Although the result was disappointing, that performance set the standard,” said Martinez.

“It was a performance that not many people have seen in League One and it’s nice to win awards and get the recognition we deserve.

“But we want to progress as the weeks go on and hit our peak when it comes to March.”