LUKAS JUTKIEWICZ IS the latest English-born player being linked with an Ireland call-up.
According to the Irish Daily Star, the Boys in Green are considering making an approach for the 27-year-old striker.
The name will likely sound unfamiliar to most Irish fans and with that in mind, here’s what you need to know about him.
He was born in Southampton and currently plays for Burnley, but has spent this season on loan at Birmingham and is set to join the Championship side permanently for £1 million (€1.2 million) in January.
He joined Southampton’s academy at the age of 10, before moving to Swindon Town three years later.
After making his senior debut for Swindon at the age of 17, Jutkiewicz was signed by Everton having registered five goals in 33 games during the 2006-07 season for the League Two side.
He ultimately made just one Premier League appearance for the Toffees, and after a couple of loan spells, left to join Coventry in 2010.
Jutkiewicz had a relatively successful spell with the Sky Blues, managing 18 goals in 67 appearances, before joining Championship rivals Middlesbrough, for whom he scored 11 goals 65 games.
He was subsequently bought by Sean Dyche’s Burnley and played 25 matches in their 2014-15 campaign, but failed to find the back of the net even once, also struggling with no goals in two appearances for the Clarets this season.
He is enjoying a new lease of life after joining Birmingham on loan, with six goals in 17 appearances, and it was recently announced that the player would be signing on a permanent deal with Gianfranco Zola’s side in January.
The attacker is also eligible to play international football for England and Poland, and qualifies to play for Ireland through his grandmother.
He is also known to score the odd spectacular goal…
All you need to know about the Championship striker linked with an Ireland call-up
LUKAS JUTKIEWICZ IS the latest English-born player being linked with an Ireland call-up.
According to the Irish Daily Star, the Boys in Green are considering making an approach for the 27-year-old striker.
The name will likely sound unfamiliar to most Irish fans and with that in mind, here’s what you need to know about him.
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Call-up Championship Explainer fyi Lukas Jutkiewicz Martin O'Neill Birmingham City Ireland Republic