IRELAND MANAGER MARTIN O’Neill has backed Dundalk duo Andy Boyle and Daryl Horgan to make the “big step up” to international level after they were included in Ireland’s provisional squad to face Austria in a World Cup qualifier later this month.
Many fans and pundits had called for the inclusion of Dundalk players in the Ireland squad following Stephen Kenny’s side’s impressive Europa League run this season, and O’Neill said the pair fully deserved their reward.
The 64-year-old coach added that he would have selected Horgan in the previous Ireland squad for games with Georgia and Moldova were it not for Dundalk’s recent hectic schedule of games.
“Obviously I’ve been impressed with the way they played and competed strongly in European football,” O’Neill said.
“It’s a big step up to international football. We’re playing against top-class opposition every time we play. We played against a Serbian side who had players from the Bundesliga and the Premier League.
Quite a number of the Dundalk players have done very well and it’s a difficult with the standard they’re playing at to make that step up. Every international manager will tell you that.”
O’Neill said that he had not spoken to the Dundalk players but kept in touch with manager Stephen Kenny in relation to their progress. The Derry native added that he was surprised by how quickly the Lilywhites have adapted to playing European football
“I think you would be surprised at the progress they’ve made. Lads in this room would see more League of Ireland football than me and I think there would be genuine surprise — naturally, a very pleasant surprise.
I think those are $64,000 dollar questions (whether they can make the step up). How will they do? I don’t think you will ever know how they might do until you play them. It’s a step up for the boys playing in the Championship (as well).
“Over the last number of years, I’ve experienced that. The players have had to come and get themselves to another level, so that is difficult. But do they deserve to be in the squad? Absolutely.”
