AFTER YEARS IN the international wilderness, Wes Hoolahan has put himself front and centre in Martin O’Neill’s Ireland plans.

Hoolahan — who has started in three of the four games since O’Neill took charge — was an obvious Man of the Match in last night’s defeat to Turkey.

He earned some warm praise from the manager afterwards, who agreed that “little Hoolahan played brilliantly for us.”

O’Neill said: “He tried to create things for us during the course of the game.

“Sometimes some big brutes come in and shove him off the ball but overall he showed a great determination and great ability to try to manouevre it. He was excellent for us.

If we’re going to try to unlock defences here at home, then that it’s that type of ability that we will need.

Aiden McGeady was another of Ireland’s better players on the night and O’Neill — who managed the winger at Celtic — urged him to bring that level of performance consistently.

“Aiden has not played much football in the last six months. I don’t want to be an apologist for him. I’m a big fan of his in terms of his ability.

He created some beautiful moments for us and then can go for a 10- or 15-minute spell not in the game. Sometimes that’s not his fault, sometimes it is.

“I think those are the type of things that if he can iron out, obviously he will be an asset to us — in all aspects of the game.”

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Hoolahan disappointed with Turkey defeat but loving regular starting role