Jon Macken

Football player infobox
playername = Jon Macken


fullname = Jonathan Paul Macken
height = height|m=1.80
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1977|9|7
cityofbirth = Blackley, Manchester
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Barnsley
clubnumber = 21
position = Striker
youthyears = 1995–1996
youthclubs = Manchester United
years = 1996–1997
1997–2002
2002–2005
2005–2007
2006–2007
2007–2008
2007
2008–
clubs = Manchester United
Preston North End
Manchester City
Crystal Palace
→ Ipswich Town (loan)
Derby County
→ Barnsley (loan)
Barnsley
caps(goals) = 000 0(0)
189 (63)
051 0(7)
025 0(2)
014 0(3)
011 0(0)
011 0(3)
028 0(6)
nationalyears = 2004
nationalteam = Republic of Ireland
nationalcaps(goals) = 001 0(0)
pcupdate = 14:58, 9 February 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 14:58, 9 February 2008 (UTC)

Jonathan Paul Macken (born September 7, 1977 in Blackley, Manchester) is an English-born Irish footballer who plays as a striker. He currently plays for Barnsley He has one international cap for the Republic of Ireland.

Playing career

Early career

Macken began his career at Manchester United and signed professional in 1996, but never played a first-team game for them and left on 22 July 1997 in a £250,000 move to Preston North End in 1997 where he scored over 70 goals, twice winning the Player of the Year award. Following this success, Macken moved into the Premiership with a transfer to Manchester City in February 2002, for a fee of £5,000,000. However, he was severely hampered by a succession of injuries, and only made 27 league starts in over three years. This downturn in his career brought about a move away from Manchester and Macken joined Crystal Palace in the summer of 2005 for £1,100,000.

Crystal Palace

Initially, Macken did not get into the Palace team, and was behind England international Andrew Johnson and Republic of Ireland International Clinton Morrison. An injury to Johnson gave him a chance, initially, but then he himself got injured. His own replacement, Dougie Freedman showed good form, and despite a recovery from injury, Macken did not get back in the team.

However, things turned upwards from there. Poor form by Morrison in the run-up to the Christmas period gave Macken his chance, and he scored his first competitive goal for Palace in the game at Coventry City, on 14 October 2005 (he had previously scored in a pre-season friendly), and scored again on 26 December, at Ipswich Town, although he was later sent off.

More injuries then continued to limit his chances, and the partnership with Johnson continued to alternate between Morrison and Dougie Freedman, with many fans voicing their discontent that Macken was not living up to his price-tag. Johnson was sold to Everton, prompting the return of Sándor Torghelle to the club from his loan at Panathinaikos, creating speculation that Macken may be leaving the club, but the appointment of Peter Taylor as manager appeared to silence this. Taylor, a known fan of Macken, was reportedly trying to sign him for Hull, while he was in charge there. [ [http://www.fansfc.com/frontpage/frontpagenews.asp?newsid=151339 Hull City Football Club:Crystal Palace forward Jon Macken is reportedly a target for the Tigers - FansFC ] ]

Torghelle left permanently for Greece, but again his playing opportunities were limited. On deadline-day of the Summer 2006 transfer window, he made a further move to Ipswich Town in The Championship, this time on loan, being handed the number 27 shirt. The loan was finally agreed when Ipswich agreed to pay an increased proportion of his wages. [ [http://ipswichtown.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=911&p=2&stid=8421531] ] Macken scored three goals for the Tractor Boys before returning to Selhurst Park.

Derby County

On 31 January 2007 Macken joined Derby County on a free transfer. Derby were promoted to the Premier League at the end of the 2006-07 season, but he failed to win a regular place, or even score for The Rams, and was loaned out to Championship side Barnsley for two months in November 2007. Although he was recalled on 27 December 2007 [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/barnsley/7072907.stm Barnsley bag Derby striker Macken] ] he eventually signed a permanent deal with the Tykes on 28 January 2008 for an undisclosed six-figure fee.

Barnsley

Jon initially joined Barnsley on 1 November 2007, on loan from Derby. He made his debut against the club that made his name, Preston. He remained goalless for his first nine games, despite having produced a string of fine performances. On 22 December, he bagged his first Barnsley goal against promotion chasing Bristol City after a fine run and shot.

The goals were flowing for Macken and he notched a brace against Stoke on Boxing Day. First a header from a Martin Devaney corner. His second goal came courtesy of a Kayode Odejayi knock-down from another Devaney cross. He then returned to Derby after Paul Jewell took over.

He made a couple of sub appearances for the Rams but his inevitable return to Barnsley was secured on 28 January 2008 for £200,000.

The very next day, he marked his return with a fine finish in the home game with Colchester. He bagged the second goal in a 2–1 win over WBA on 9 February and he was again on the scoresheet as the Reds thrashed Ipswich on March 11.

International

Macken has represented the England U-20 team at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship, but represents the Republic of Ireland at full international level.

References

=External links=

* [http://www.barnsleyfc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10309~8823,00.html Jon Macken profile] at barnsleyfc.co.uk
*soccerbase|10775|Jon Macken