David Meyler

David John Meyler (born 29 May 1989) is an Irish former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder.

After turning professional at League of Ireland team Cork City, Meyler moved to Sunderland in the Premier League in 2008.

He progressed through the youth team of Cork City and signed a professional contract in 2008.

He made three appearances for Cork, with his debut coming in a cup game against Limerick on 6 June 2008.

Meyler joined Sunderland on 25 July 2008 for an undisclosed fee believed to be around £250,000 which has risen close to £500,000 after appearances and his first Republic of Ireland senior call-up.

He became their third summer signing and followed the footsteps of former Cork City teammate Roy O'Donovan by moving to the Stadium of Light.

However, it was not until a year and a half after joining Sunderland that Meyler made his first professional appearance for the club, starting against Blackburn Rovers on 28 December 2009.

In his third appearance for Sunderland, at Portsmouth on 9 February 2010, Meyler received a straight red card just minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute.

He suffered serious cruciate ligament damage against Manchester United on 2 May 2010, that was feared would leave him sidelined for as long as 12 months.

However, he made a quicker recovery than expected, making his comeback for Sunderland's Reserves against Liverpool Reserves, on 2 November 2010.

Manager Steve Bruce insisted Meyler would not be rushed back to first team action.

Surprisingly, he returned in an away match at Fulham, featuring for 52 minutes in a 0–0 draw.

On 5 January 2011, Meyler pulled up suddenly and was stretchered off in Sunderland's away match at Aston Villa.

It was revealed after the game by Bruce that Meyler suffered cruciate ligament damage to the same knee as before.

It was later announced by Sunderland that Meyler had a scan on the knee and had torn his medial ligament.

This ruled Meyler out for another 10 weeks at least rather than 6 months which was first feared.

Meyler returned to the Sunderland bench for their defeat at Birmingham City on 16 April 2011.

Meyler continued to be eased back to fitness by Sunderland in the 2011–12 season, playing in several reserve fixtures before making a cameo substitute appearance in the 2–2 draw with West Bromwich Albion on 1 October 2011.

He also came on as a late substitute against Aston Villa and Manchester United.

Meyler was a full international for the Republic of Ireland between 2012 and 2018, playing 26 games.

Meyler was born in Cork, Ireland, to Stella Bowles (medical laboratory technician) and John Meyler (GAA dual player and manager).

Meyler's first appearance under Martin O'Neill came as a 63rd-minute substitute in the 4–1 win at Wigan Athletic on 3 January 2012.

Meyler made his first start of the season at Stoke City on 4 February, and was involved in controversy when Robert Huth received a straight red card for a challenge on him.

Sunderland went on to win 1–0, and Stoke manager Tony Pulis was unhappy with Meyler's reaction: "I think Robert commits himself them pulls out, and I don't think he actually touches Meyler, or whatever his name is, and I'm really disappointed at the player's reaction... I don't think Robert actually touches the lad, and the way he goes down and rolls around, for me he's done it for one reason and that was to get him sent off."

Meyler did not start another game for the rest of the season, although he frequently appeared as a substitute.

On 8 November 2012, Meyler was reunited with former manager Steve Bruce as he went out on loan to Hull City until 1 January 2013.

He made his debut from the bench as a second-half substitute for Jay Simpson in the away match at Cardiff City on 10 November 2012.

He scored his first goal for the club on 8 December 2012 when he opened the scoring in the 1–2 win against Watford at Vicarage Road.

He scored again in the following game on 15 December, completing a 2–0 win at home to Huddersfield Town.

He joined Hull City in 2013 after a short loan spell.

On 8 January 2013, Meyler was signed by Hull permanently on a three-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee.

On 1 December 2013, Meyler scored his first Premier League goal against Liverpool in a 3–1 home win.

Meyler was involved in a touchline scuffle on 1 March 2014 with Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew, who headbutted him.

Eight days later, after scoring in a 3–0 FA Cup quarter-final win against former team Sunderland, Meyler headbutted the corner flag to mock the incident.

On 13 April 2014, he scored Hull's fifth goal in their 5–3 FA Cup semi-final victory against Sheffield United at Wembley Stadium.

On 17 May 2014, he started in the 2014 FA Cup Final against Arsenal.

On 22 January 2016, Meyler signed a two-year extension to his contract with Hull City.

He was released by Hull at the end of the 2017–18 season.

Meyler moved to Reading in 2018, where he finished his career in 2019 after a brief loan spell at Coventry City.

On 5 June 2018, Reading announced the signing of Meyler on a two-year contract, with the option of a third, with the deal to be completed upon the conclusion of his Hull City contract on 30 June 2018.