McShane: Focused on Hull
On-loan Hull City defender Paul McShane insists he is focusing on the job in hand at the KC Stadium rather than worrying about events at parent club Sunderland.
The 22-year-old is on a season-long loan with the Tigers, where he has settled in well in the right-back role after primarily playing as a central defender earlier in his career.
While admitting he is uncertain as to what the future holds now Roy Keane has left the Stadium of Light, he says he is simply concentrating on his football.
The Republic of Ireland international said: "Obviously things aren't going as well for the lads as they would have expected but I am a Hull City player now and I'm not wasting too much energy over it."
He added: "I'm happy here. I've settled in fine. Everyone around the place has been good.
"Time has flown by. It is reaching the halfway stage and people are starting to talk but we'll see what happens in the next couple of months. I don't know what is going to happen."
Instead of indulging in speculation, McShane is focused on helping the Tigers get back to winning ways after a run of six league games without a win.
Phil Brown's side are still in sixth place after drawing their last three games - the latest against Stoke - and McShane hopes they can beat Middlesbrough at the KC on Saturday.
He added: "We have picked up a few points in the last three games. We were disappointed not to get a win against Stoke but everything is grand, people are in good spirits.
"We are not going to get complacent or get a bit lazy. We need to get points on the board and the sooner we do that the better.
"We don't want to be going long periods without a win. We are still doing what we were a couple of months ago and we are going to keep cracking away."
While Boro are without a win in three games themselves, McShane does not underestimate the threat of Gareth Southgate's side.
He added: "They have got a decent away record so it will be a good test, but it is also a great opportunity for us to maybe pick up three points. It is important to get back to winning ways and get three points."

Tyler's Teaser - 22nd November
Neville injury latest
Big Sam on road to recovery
Hart wants to be England's No.1
Fabregas - Gunner for life
Wenger's injury woes
Martinez will bounce back - Whelan
Stoke 1-0 Portsmouth - Fuller and Sorensen
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 25th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Hull vs Everton |
| 20:00 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Burnley |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Sunderland |
| 17:30 | Aston Villa vs Tottenham |
| Sunday 29th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:00 | Wolverhampton vs Birmingham |
| 13:30 | Everton vs Liverpool |
| 16:00 | Arsenal vs Chelsea |
| Saturday 5th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Portsmouth vs Burnley |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Liverpool |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Birmingham |
| 15:00 | Wolverhampton vs Bolton |
| 17:30 | Man City vs Chelsea |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Bolton 0 - 2 Blackburn | |
| Tottenham 9 - 1 Wigan | |
| Stoke 1 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 2 - 2 Man City | |
| Hull 3 - 3 West Ham | |
| Chelsea 4 - 0 Wolverhampton | |
| Burnley 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Man Utd 3 - 0 Everton | |
| Birmingham 1 - 0 Fulham | |
| Sunderland 1 - 0 Arsenal | |
| Monday 9th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 2 - 2 Birmingham | |
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Wigan 1 - 1 Fulham | |
| Chelsea 1 - 0 Man Utd | |
| West Ham 1 - 2 Everton | |
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 5 - 1 Bolton | |
| Blackburn 3 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Tottenham 2 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Wolverhampton 1 - 4 Arsenal | |
| Man City 3 - 3 Burnley | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 13 | 33 |
| 2 | Manchester United | 13 | 28 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 12 | 25 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 13 | 25 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 13 | 22 |
| 6 | Manchester City | 12 | 21 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 13 | 20 |
| 8 | Sunderland | 13 | 20 |
| 9 | Stoke City | 13 | 19 |
| 10 | Burnley | 13 | 17 |
| 11 | Blackburn Rovers | 12 | 16 |
| 12 | Fulham | 12 | 15 |
| 13 | Birmingham City | 13 | 15 |
| 14 | Everton | 12 | 15 |
| 15 | Wigan Athletic | 13 | 14 |
| 16 | Hull City | 13 | 12 |
| 17 | West Ham United | 13 | 11 |
| 18 | Bolton Wanderers | 12 | 11 |
| 19 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 13 | 10 |
| 20 | Portsmouth | 13 | 7 |
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