CALLUM O’DOWDA IS among the Irish players hoping to impress new manager Mick McCarthy ahead of his first game in charge next March.
However, the 23-year-old has had a mixed season at club level with Championship side Bristol City.
Having missed a couple of games recently through illness, he made a return to the starting line-up against title-challengers Norwich City over the weekend and repaid manager Lee Johnson’s faith with a superb goal — his first since November 2017.
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Picking up a through-pass from Marlon Pack, O’Dowda raced forward before unleashing a powerful strike that went in off the underside of the crossbar.
Johnson labelled his performance “outstanding”, saying: “It was great goal. His energy and his willingness to run was always going to be important to us.”
O’Dowda added: “I’ve been quite unlucky with my illnesses, and I still probably haven’t got over it 100%. So it’s nice to get back in.
“As soon as Marlon picked it up, that was the first thought in my head. That’s what I tried to do today — run in behind and cause a threat.
“It was a great pass and I think it [the goal] took a deflection, but I didn’t really care to be honest.”
The game finished 2-2 to leave Bristol 14th in the table. Watch O’Dowda’s goal below [2:58 in]:
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'Outstanding' O'Dowda hailed after scoring first goal in over a year
CALLUM O’DOWDA IS among the Irish players hoping to impress new manager Mick McCarthy ahead of his first game in charge next March.
However, the 23-year-old has had a mixed season at club level with Championship side Bristol City.
Having missed a couple of games recently through illness, he made a return to the starting line-up against title-challengers Norwich City over the weekend and repaid manager Lee Johnson’s faith with a superb goal — his first since November 2017.
Picking up a through-pass from Marlon Pack, O’Dowda raced forward before unleashing a powerful strike that went in off the underside of the crossbar.
Johnson labelled his performance “outstanding”, saying: “It was great goal. His energy and his willingness to run was always going to be important to us.”
“As soon as Marlon picked it up, that was the first thought in my head. That’s what I tried to do today — run in behind and cause a threat.
“It was a great pass and I think it [the goal] took a deflection, but I didn’t really care to be honest.”
The game finished 2-2 to leave Bristol 14th in the table. Watch O’Dowda’s goal below [2:58 in]:
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Callum O'Dowda Irish Eye Overdue Bristol City Norwich City