Feeny man Eunan O’Kane in line to feature against Liverpool

Feeny man Eunan O’Kane is in line to play a key role in tonight’s English League Cup clash between Bournemouth FC and Liverpool.
AFC Bournemouth's Eunan O'Kane (left) celebrates scoringl against Wigan Athletic with Marc PughAFC Bournemouth's Eunan O'Kane (left) celebrates scoringl against Wigan Athletic with Marc Pugh
AFC Bournemouth's Eunan O'Kane (left) celebrates scoringl against Wigan Athletic with Marc Pugh

O’Kane, who started his career as a youth team player for Everton, earned top of the Championship side Bournemouth a dream home tie against Liverpool in the last round with a well-taken goal against West Bromwich Albion.

O’Kane is said to be one of three Bournemouth players who grew up supporting the Merseyside giants, and will be particularly keen to start tonight’s match.

The County Londonderry man has gotten his professional career firmly on track after failing to make a breakthrough at Everton as a youth player. He returned to play for Coleraine in 2009 and scored two goals on his debut against Glentoran. After a series of impressive performances, O’Kane was offered a trial at Torquay United and made the most of his chance to return to English football.

In July 2012, Torquay had a bid accepted from Bournemouth and O’Kane made the switch. He has since looked at home, playing in midfield for the Cherries.

After scoring the opener with a well-placed shot for Bournemouth against West Brom in the last 16, Eunan O’Kane insists his side will approach their League Cup quarter-final clash with Liverpool with no fear.

The midfielder is clear that the Cherries will head into the game against Premier League opposition full of confidence, feeling themselves in a much better place than last term.

“It is a fantastic tie for us. We drew them in the FA Cup last year and they probably deserved their two-goal lead they took from our place, but it will be a good opportunity to go up against them again”, O’Kane recently told BBC Radio 5 live. “We are a better squad. We have more depth, the squad is much better and in terms of form we can’t have too many complaints. No one here will go into the game in fear of them, we look forward to it.”

If he does get a start in tonight’s match, he will be going into the massive tie with one of the most successful club’s in English football on the back of an impressive display against Exeter last Wednesday (December 10, 2014).

In that match, O’Kane scored with an incredible strike into the top corner to open the scoring in a 4-0 victory for Bournemouth in the 45th minute.

Should Bournemouth and local man O’Kane win tonight, it would represent another disappointing result in what is fast becoming a nightmare season for fellow Northern Irishman and Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.