‘We can’t be headless chickens in this heat’ – Shields on Cyprus showdown
Chris Shields has warned of poultry in motion, declaring: ‘We can’t be headless chickens in this heat’.
After last week’s scoreless draw, Dundalk’s clash with AEK Larnaca is finely balanced ahead of today’s decider in Cyprus.
Lilywhites ace Shields has become a dab hand at these European tussles and will draw on his continental street-smarts to manage conditions.
Stephen Kenny’s charges will be pitched into a melting pot as temperatures in Larnaca have soared to the mid-30s.
And Shields said: “That will be a factor. It’s going to hit them as well, but they will be more used to it.
“We went to Spain (for a training camp) in June and that was in the 30s so it won’t be something brand-new to us, but it’s going to be a small bit difficult.
“It’s about managing game-time and not running around like headless chickens because you will tire yourself out.”
A man of fair complexion, Shields expels an extraordinary amount of energy in run-of-the-mill league games.
So will he have to taper his own swashbuckling style in the sunshine?
Think Steve Staunton in his sweat-stained, white baseball cap at the sizzling World Cup in America 24 years ago.
Shields laughed and said: “I’ve the letter into UEFA to see if I can play with it on backwards but they haven’t gotten back to me yet .
“My missus packed factor 50 for me so I’ll be well lathered up anyway.”
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