HULL CITY MANAGER Steve Bruce has hailed the strength of Robbie Brady’s character after the winger returned from caring for his ill daughter to create the winning goal against Queens Park Rangers last weekend.
The Republic of Ireland international was set to miss the Tigers’ crucial Premier League game against QPR as he returned to Dublin after his 13-month-old daughter, Halle, was admitted to hospital with illness.
The 23-year-old attacker returned to action at the KC Stadium after his daughter received the all clear and the City boss was quick to lavish praise on the youngster for managing to play so well under difficult circumstances.
It wasn’t easy for him. We are all like that when there is something wrong with your daughter – especially when they are that young. Your thoughts are always on them and not your football but he came back and played well.”
“He has come back into the team and done well in the last three games so it’s good at the moment that he’s playing well and given the problems he’s had, that’s great testament to him.
“Assists like the one last week will help his cause to stay in the team it was a great ball which, to be fair, Robbie is capable of producing but he is a good player and he is only 23 so he has a big future ahead of him.”
Brady admitted it was a tough few days but remains relieved that it all worked out well in the end both on the pitch and off it. “I had my heart set on playing,” he said. “Especially having just got back into the team. We had a little bump in the road, she wasn’t well and in hospital for a few days so I felt I needed to be with her.
“The manager phoned me to make sure everything was OK. She was picking up, so I flew back and trained Friday to prepare for the game. Thankfully, everything was OK. She’s almost back to full health. It’s been a hard week but it’s been good. We got a good result as well which is all that matters.”
The former Manchester United trainee’s cross in the closing stages of their relegation six pointer against Rangers last time out allowed Dame N’Doye to head in a later winner from close range. Brady has been pleased with his performances since regaining his place in the starting XI as well as his assist in that important win.
“I have been working hard to get back into the team and that’s just carried on into that performance,” he said. “I’m enjoying it at the minute and hopefully I can keep putting in some decent performances and keep myself in the team.
“It was hard against 10 men to break them down. After Rob Green made the save I thought we were never going to score. We kept at it and luckily enough we got the goal.
“When it left my foot I thought ‘it’s got a chance and if someone’s in the right area, they’ll score’. All credit to Dame, he was head and shoulders above the ball and it was going nowhere else but the back of the net.”
