ICTChris Posted January 25, 2005 Share Posted January 25, 2005 Interesting article in the Sunday Herald on, er, SUnday regarding possible call ups for Walter Smith to consider. Iwelumo looks forward to a bright Scottish futureStewart Fisher speaks to an unfamiliar contender for a call-up in Walter Smith’s new regime BRISEIS ARAYA IWELUMO was born in a hospital in Stoke last Friday but it is her football-playing daddy, Chris, who is among the most unfamiliar names that Walter Smith will be running the rule over in the next few weeks. Iwelumo senior, a 26-year-old former St Mirren, Aberdeen, AGF Aarhus, Stoke and Brighton striker who resembles something of a Scottish/Nigerian John Carew, has become a fans’ favourite at promotion-chasing German second division side Alemannia Aachen, and even despite a goalless first six months at his new club, has played himself into contention for the future squad match against Poland on February 22. Iwelumo is at the vanguard of a new generation of potential Scottish internationalists that as well as home favourites such as Hibs’ Derek Riordan and Garry O’Connor, also includes Portugal-based Stephen McPhee, young Premiership-based Scots such as Chelsea’s Steven Watt, and English-born journeymen with newly-discovered Scottish ancestry such as Neil Clement. Iwelumo’s only previous call-up, for a training match against Dundee United back in the innocent early days of the Berti Vogts’ regime in 2002, clashed with a play-off semi-final for Stoke against Cardiff. Having been overlooked for the rest of the German’s tenure, Iwelumo is praying such a mishap of timing won’t happen again. The Poland match, after all, is in the midst of Aachen’s Uefa Cup tie against Rangers’ conquerors AZ Alkmaar (February 17 and 24). Iwelumo has often been used as a substitute for former Liverpool striker Erik Meijer, and for once a recurrence of that arrangement would suit him fine. “If I was going to be on the bench then I can’t see the club having a problem with me going,†said Iwelumo. “I got into the squad about two-and-a-half years ago and I couldn’t go because I was in the play-offs with Stoke City, and the chance never really came up again. I was gutted about that so I’m just delighted my name is being linked again.†The close-season switch to Germany has been eye-opening, even if there have been frustrations for Iwelumo in breaking his goalscoring duck (after seven pre-season strikes) amid the distraction of imminent fatherhood. His daughter weighed 3lbs 4oz when his wife Bianca gave birth prematurely. There was even the drama of deciphering the spelling – as the couple decided to name her after the love interest in the film Troy. “I will have to go and watch the movie again,†he said. Nonetheless, with four German language lessons being taken each week, and specialised individual training programs under the supervision of coach Dieter Heching, Iwelumo believes he is in peak condition. “I am probably in the best shape I have ever been,†he said. “The trainer is a very intelligent man – he sees all that goes on at the club, and every player is treated in the best way to get the best out of everyone individually. “With the training and the professionalism it has just been outstanding for me, although with my wife being pregnant I went something like four months without seeing her.†It is not hard to see what attributes club coaches – and possibly even Smith – can locate in Iwelumo. At 6ft 4in and weighing 13 stone, the Coatbridge-born player boasts pace and aggression. If his trip abroad can add a touch more technique, it will be a formidable mixture, even if Nigeria, where his father is from, have yet to get back in touch after checking his form a few seasons ago. “I think it was a huge blow for Scotland when Duncan Ferguson said he wasn’t going to play again,†Iwelumo said. “Since then, I think someone with his ability, his aggressive nature, his ability and his goalscoring, would have made a difference. I do score goals, and you can blow your own trumpet as much as you want, but you have got to do it on the day.†Iwelumo got to know McPhee when they were rivals with Stoke and Port Vale respectively, so it is ironic the width of a continent could separate them as they are thrust into a Scotland strike pairing. Iwelumo can at least be relied upon to work like a Trojan. Do any of these names excite any fans? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swampy Posted January 25, 2005 Share Posted January 25, 2005 The top half of the 2. Bundesliga is probably better than most the SPL, and Aachen are doing quite well at present. I'd certainly like him to be given a shot, but I think some of the Hibs youngsters have to be given a shot as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codfish Posted January 25, 2005 Share Posted January 25, 2005 McPhee is the one that excites me - pace to burn, and a genuine eye for goal (he's scored plenty of goals in the English league, and now in Portugal). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage Henry Posted January 25, 2005 Share Posted January 25, 2005 former Liverpool striker Erik Meijer Another Houllier legend. I'm all in favour of giving as many players caps as possible. But not to Blob Talcolm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Posted January 25, 2005 Share Posted January 25, 2005 Don't remember Iwelumo ever playing for Aberdeen... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diamonds2002 Posted January 26, 2005 Share Posted January 26, 2005 Paul Hartley is a good shout but they will wait til he is warming the bench at sellick before they call him up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Inverweegian Posted January 26, 2005 Share Posted January 26, 2005 Riordan of Hibs is getting a lot of shouts for a call up these days - and probably justified given his form this season. I'd even think of starting him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest col170 Posted January 26, 2005 Share Posted January 26, 2005 Riordan of Hibs, is a good shout to start against italy, but who would he play up with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munro7 Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 If they keep playing the way they are I'd be tempted to play Riordan and O'Connor given that they know each other's game and seem to work pretty well together. It's not as if we currently have an automatic first choice striker who's a must-pick! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diamonds2002 Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 As much as I dont rate the guy - Dickov is turning on most weeks down south and in a rubbish team Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Captain Sensible Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 Paul Gallagher has been starting games for Blackburn recently. Derek Soutar would be a good shout for 3rd choice keeper behind Douglas and Gordon. I also hope that Walter tries to bring back Weir, Matteo & Duncan Ferguson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diamonds2002 Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 Matteo pack in international football because he needs pain killing injections everytime he plays and wanted to reduce the number of time a season he has to play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Captain Sensible Posted January 27, 2005 Share Posted January 27, 2005 Matteo pack in international football because he needs pain killing injections everytime he plays and wanted to reduce the number of time a season he has to play. Yes, but as Walter has stated that he won't play as many friendlies, maybe he can be tempted back...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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