FORMER IRELAND MIDFIELDER Keith Andrews says the Boys in Green must exercise caution in their pursuit of Brentford striker Scott Hogan.
Hogan has been heavily linked with a call-up by the Irish team in recent months and is understood to have turned down the opportunity to be part of the squad on one occasion recently. Meanwhile, Ireland boss Martin O’Neill has confirmed that he has been in contact with the player’s agent and that the issue will be discussed in detail over the Christmas period.
The matter is complicated by the 24-year-old’s history of injury problems. After signing for Brentford ahead of the 2014-15 campaign, Hogan made just eight appearances over the course of two campaigns as a knee injury put paid to his hopes of first-team football.
It is only this season that Hogan has managed a regular run of games for his club, registering eight goals in 17 appearances for the side who are currently 12th in the Championship.
There have been suggestions that the player’s history of knee issues is the main reason why Hogan is reluctant to make himself available for Ireland duty, with the extra games and change of environment potentially causing further problems for the Salford-born striker. Club teammate Alan Judge, however, believes the Championship star will come on board ultimately.
But Andrews was wary about the pursuit of Hogan, saying Ireland must not go too out of their way to accommodate him.
“What goes on behind the scenes, we don’t know, but I wouldn’t be chasing it,” Andrews said, speaking at the launch of the SPAR FAI Primary School 5s Programme in Aviva Stadium on Thursday.
When (Ireland) got close to (major tournament) qualification in 2010 or 2012, if anybody started jumping on the bandwagon closer to it, they wouldn’t really be welcomed in, certainly not if they’d have been playing in my position.
“You quickly realise when people come into squads whether they’re the real deal, whether they’re genuine.
“Now, okay, but if (the Hogan issue) starts drifting on any longer, not for me.
There would be slight scepticism if, two games to go and we’re four points clear, he (becomes available).”
But regardless of what happens with Hogan, Andrews acknowledges that there seems a lack of obvious top-class young Irish strikers coming through at the moment.
Of the four forwards included in the last squad, none are under the age of 28, and Jon Walters, who started in Vienna, is 33.
The former MK Dons and Blackburn midfielder, who is currently studying for his FAI Uefa Pro Licence, emphasises that the striker problem is not exclusive to Ireland and is more a symptom of the how the sport has developed in general over the years.
It’s the hardest position on the football pitch and in the last few years, the way formations have gone, you play with one striker.
“You’ve gone from an era of 4-4-2 and now you’re only producing one (striker). It’s very difficult.
Obviously, in the last few years, Robbie has calmed down in terms of his performance and now he’s retired, it’s very difficult to get right in terms of producing those players.”
As far as the Irish team as a whole is concerned, Andrews feels Martin O’Neill’s side have yet to play to their full potential despite topping Group D after a historic win over Austria last weekend.
“If everybody’s right, maybe one or two creep into the squad or people hit purple patches, I think there’s more from this group of players, I really do.
We’re top of the group comfortably without playing anywhere near as well as we can. I think the Robbie Bradys, the Jeff Hendricks haven’t hit the heights of (Euro 2016).
“I think we’re imbalanced in certain areas, out wide and up front
The result the other day was magnificent purely because of the options we were missing.
“You take Shane Long out and I know McGoldrick came on but if anything had happened to (Jon) Walters (we were in trouble).”
Republic of Ireland Manager Martin O’Neill and former Republic of Ireland International Keith Andrews were on hand today to launch the SPAR FAI Primary School 5s Programme in Aviva Stadium. The five-a-side school blitzes are open to boys and girls from 4th, 5th and 6th class. Registration will close on February 17th. For further information or to register your school please see www.spar.ie or www.faischools.ie.
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