American international Brek Shea’s on-field time on loan at Birmingham City has included just about 150 minutes over these first few weeks.
After an assist in his opening game under Lee Clark, where he picked up an assist and three shots over 66 minutes, Shea has gone on to play a 53-minute shift and as a 53rd minute substitute.
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Still hoping to make an impact in England, Shea seems to be feeling better this loan stop than the one that ended with an obscene gesture to Barnsley fans. And the 24-year-old Stoke man is hoping that his growing understanding of England’s passion for soccer will help his career.
From The Birmingham Mail:“I would say over here it’s more of a kind of full-time job compared to MLS,” commented the Blues winger, who is on loan from Stoke City.
“I don’t want to say that’s part-time, what I mean is that MLS is a good league, it is growing every year.
“But it’s different because over here football is the only sport. Everything off the field, on the field, they get magnified by times ten.
“Over there you don’t really get that big a media interest.
“All the people don’t really know as they have (American) football, basketball, baseball.”
Shea was also asked plenty about his future in the American side, and spoke at-length about Jurgen Klinsmann. The writer says the USMNT is “becoming a force” under the German coach.More from The Birmingham Mail piece:
“If he can mould the team the way he wants I think we have a good chance (of success).
“He was frustrated with not getting further than we managed in Brazil.
“He is someone that believes, so every time you have a coach that believes so much as he does the players kind of get behind that.”
The writer, Colin Tattum, also talked to Shea about his failed stint at Barnsley and point to prove with England in a Wednesday piece. You can check that out here.