ALTHOUGH THERE WERE many calls for Martin O’Neill to freshen up his Ireland squad ahead of next month’s World Cup double-header, not many expected to see the PFA Scotland Championship Goalkeeper of the Year Danny Rogers to be included, least of all the man himself.
The 22-year-old, who is on-loan to second-tier side Falkirk for a second consecutive season from Aberdeen, today expressed his shock of getting the call from the Ireland management team.
“I’m really chuffed, I didn’t expect it at all. It’s great that Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane have noticed that I’m doing well and have given me a chance. Hopefully I can go in and show them what I can do,” the former Ireland U21 goalkeeper told Falkirk’s official website.
“James McDonaugh (Falkirk first-team coach) told me I’d been called up again for the Under 21’s so I’d just assumed that it was that again, but when I was told I was called up for the full squad I was delighted.
“It’s a great experience to look forward to it and it’s great that at the age of 22 I’ve been called up to the senior squad.
“I had absolutely no inkling it was coming, I took a call just as I came off the training pitch this morning. I was taken aback a bit by it.
“This is the highest level I can play at, I’ve came a long way after a good season last year and hopefully I can keep going and stay in the squad.
“A lot of goalkeepers when they finish with the Under 21’s might not get a call up for five years so to get that right away is excellent. It’s great to be recognised.”
Rogers, who was born in New York to Irish parents, grew up in Dublin and went on to play for renowned schoolboy clubs Belvedere then Cherry Orchard, before making the decision to move to the UK.
Although several high-profile clubs including Celtic and Stoke City showed interest in signing the goalkeeper, Rogers opted to move to Aberdeen, where he felt it would be easier to break into the first-team.
However, five years after moving to Scotland, Rogers has yet to make a first-team appearance for the Dons, although he has enjoyed loan spells with lower league sides, including Airdrie, where he made his senior debut.
The following season Rogers would impress further with Dumbarton in the Scottish Championship, and claimed the club’s Supporter’s and Player’s Player of the Year Awards at the end of the campaign.
Rogers, who was also named the Championship’s Player of the Month last December, has been battling with Manchester City goalkeeper Ian Lawlor for a place in the Irish U21 side, but had never been called up to the senior squad before today.
The goalkeeper made a total of 44 appearances for Falkirk last season, as the Bairns narrowly missed out on promotion to the top flight after they were comprehensively beaten 4-0 by Kilmarnock in the play-off final.
However, after a signing a new two-year deal with his parent club Aberdeen in the summer, the goalkeeper went back out on loan to Falkirk to gain more first-team experience this term.
“The improvement in his game throughout last season was fantastic and I’m sure he will continue that development over the course of this season, ” Falkirk manager Peter Houston explained when he returned to the club.
“You know what you get with Danny, a solid, hardworking goalkeeper and a great all-round character,” Falkirk manager
Although he is unlikely to feature in the qualifiers against Georgia and Moldova with Darren Randolph and Kieren Westwood also selected, you can be assured Rogers will grab this opportunity with both hands.
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