MANCHESTER, England – Shane O’Neill may no longer be a Colorado Rapids player but, that doesn’t mean the US Under-23 international doesn’t still keep track of how his former team is playing.
O’Neill, who transferred from the Rapids to Cypriot side Apollon Limassol on Aug. 7 before moving to Belgian top-flight club Royal Mouscron-Peruwelz on Monday, has been impressed by what he’s seen since leaving Colorado, crediting U-23 teammate Dillon Serna in helping the team to their current three-game win streak.
- READ: Versatile Chicago rookie Matt Polster eager for shot with U-23s, says he'll play "any position"
“I think he’s kind of brought some life back into the team,” O’Neill said of his former Rapids teammate.
O’Neill, of course, didn’t get many chances to impress in Colorado this season, playing just four regular season games this year prior to moving to Europe. O’Neill didn’t ask to be transferred, but does think the midseason switch was the best move for both parties.
“I was expecting it, yeah, but I didn’t ask to be transferred. I think it was just kind of something that was in the cards for a little bit of time,” he said at the US U-23 camp in England. “I think it was good for both parties and I’m happy with what’s happened since.”
O’Neill, who is eligible to represent his birth country Ireland but said he is “completely focused on the US” at the moment, is eager to get started in Belgium, where he’ll be hoping to return to regular status after spending the last six months riding the pine for the Rapids.
“I just can’t wait to get over there and start training,” he said. “I’ve been over to the ground, I’ve seen the city and all that kind of stuff so I’m just really excited to get going.”
“You look around and I think a lot of us are in need of games.”
