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Dean Shiels

Personal information
Full name	Dean Shiels
Date of birth	1 February 1985 (1985-02-01) (age 24)
Place of birth	Magherafelt, Northern Ireland
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing position	Attacking midfielder
Club information
Current club	Doncaster Rovers
Number	22
Youth career
2003–2004	Arsenal
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2004–2009	Hibernian	117	(24)
2009–	Doncaster Rovers	26	(5)
National team‡
2005–	Northern Ireland	8	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 10:53, 22 November 2009 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16:31, 25 October 2008 (UTC)

Dean Shiels (born 1 February 1985) is a Northern Irish professional football player who plays for Doncaster Rovers in the Football League Championship. Shiels has represented Northern Ireland eight times at full international level.

Career

Hibernian

Shiels started his career at Arsenal, but made no first team appearances for the club before signing for Hibernian in 2004.^[1] In early 2006, Shiels had an operation to remove his right eye, which had been blind since a domestic accident when he was eight years old. The damaged eye was causing headaches and it was agreed that surgery was the best solution.^[2] In November 2008, St. Mirren apologised to Shiels after one of their supporters verbally abused him regarding his disability during a match at Love Street.^[3] Hearts also criticised their supporters after they taunted Shiels about his disability during an Edinburgh derby match.^[4]

Shiels returned to action after his eye operation later in 2006.^[5] He re-established himself in Hibs' first team squad in the 2006–07 season, scoring in the team's first two league matches. He scored his first hat-trick for Hibs on 12 January 2008 in a 3–0 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Cup, but Shiels struggled to establish himself as a Hibs first team regular throughout his time at Easter Road.^[6]

Doncaster Rovers

Shiels, whose contract with Hibernian was due to expire in the summer of 2009, signed for Doncaster Rovers on 2 February 2009.^[6] He was transferred for a fee of around £50,000.^[7] He made his Rovers debut on 21 February 2009, coming on as a second half substitute in a 3–1 defeat at Swansea City. His first goal for the club came in the last home match of the 2008–09 season, where he scored the first goal in a 2–0 victory over Crystal Palace.

Northern Ireland

Shiels won his first Northern Ireland cap against Portugal in November 2005.^[8] He was recalled to the squad for the match against Scotland in August 2008 after an absence of 18 months.^[9] Shiels appeared as a second half substitute in the goalless draw at Hampden Park.^[10]

References

External links

• Dean Shiels career stats at Soccerbase
• Irish Football Association profile