GARETH MAHER - Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Ryan Guy is on a high after being selected to play for an Airtricity League XI in a friendly game against Manchester United at Aviva Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The San Diego native has been given permission by St. Patrick's Athletic to link up with a squad comprised of players plying their trade in the Airtricity League for the first soccer game at the redeveloped Aviva Stadium.
Guy is one of only two foreign players that were called up by head coach Damien Richardson for the exhibition game against English Premier League giants Manchester United.
It is hardly surprising that Guy made the cut considering his play for St. Pat's over the last three seasons, but he admitted that he was excited to be included for such a historic game.
"When Damien [Richardson] gave me a call to say I was in the squad, I was absolutely delighted," he told YA. "Every player in the league would like the chance to play on this team, let along in a new stadium and against opposition like Manchester United."
Guy has been named in the starting XI for the game and is expected to play out wide on the right of midfield. He represents St. Pat's along with goalkeeper Gary Rogers, while club-mate Conor Kenna makes the bench.
The 24-year-old met up with the squad earlier this week for training in Gannon Park, Malahide before having a training session on the glorious field at the new stadium.
So far, it has been an enjoyable experience for Guy, although he hopes to register an impressive performance against the star players that Manchester United have brought over for the one-off game.
"It's been great, it's been hard work, and the guys and the standard have been top class," added Guy. "It's true but we play against these often enough that we do know them, we know how they play."
"I think Damien has made some great choices and I'm really looking forward to it," he concluded. "We have opposition that we don't get to play against so it's a welcome break. The way we're all going into it is that it's 11 humans versus 11 humans."