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…
- You can find him on Twitter – @Lukeyjuke.
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