Keith Andrews should get the opportunity to make his case for an international recall today when Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill heads along to see the FA Cup tie between Brighton and Reading.
The Dublin-born midfielder has scored once in 15 appearances for Brighton this season but hasn’t featured for his country since the friendly against Greece in November 2012.
The 33-year-old, who is on a long term loan from Bolton wanderers, remains anxious to battle his way back into the set up and having missed Brighton’s last game he is expected to start today in a side that is also likely to feature Stephen Ward who scored a late equaliser against Bournemouth in midweek.
Alex Pearce and Stephen Kelly should both feature for Reading while young Pierce Sweeney will be hoping to make his debut having been an unused substitute for the New Year’s Day game against Nottingham Forest.
Assistant manager Roy Keane will be at the City ground for the early game tomorrow with Forest taking on West Ham. Andy Reid looks a likely starter after a strong first half to the season while Simon Cox may well feature for the home side. Sam Allardyce looks set to start Joey O’Brien for the visitors.
Ipswich town striker Daryl Murphy is hoping the new Ireland management team’s greater willingness to go along and watch players in the flesh might give him the opportunity to impress too after nearly six years in the international wilderness.
“If they want to come and watch me play and I’m doing well, let’s see what happens,” says the 30 year-old who has hit a bit of form for Mick McCarthy’s side this season.
“Of course it would be nice if it happened. I’ve made no secret of that fact I’d love to play for my country again, but whether I get picked or not is another thing.
“Roy (Keane) has said nice things about me in the past, but there are still a lot of quality players out there who have not been given their chance for Ireland. They’ve got players in there who have been in there for years too. It’s a tough ask, but if I keep playing well and Ipswich keep doing well then you never know.”
Stoke City boss Mark Hughes has confirmed that he will try to finalise a deal to make Stephen Ireland’s loan arrangement from Aston Villa permanent over the course of the transfer window.
“We’re trying to do something with Stephen if we can,” says the Welshman. “I know we’ve had discussions with his people and I’ve spoken to Stephen myself. I think there’s a willingness on both sides to get something done. Nothing’s been agreed formally yet but I think the intention is there to try to do something if we can.”
Colorado Rapids defender Shane O’Neill and Chicago Fire midfielder Mike Magee have both been called into Jürgen Klinsmann’s US squad for a forthcoming training camp. Neither has been capped at senior level yet and both have been mentioned in connection with possible Irish call-ups. O’Neill was born in Cork with the 20- year-old’s father, Colm, an All-Ireland winning footballer for the county while Robbie Keane revealed last year that 29- year-old Magee would qualify for selection. Both have represented the US at under age level, however, and O’Neill did especially well for the under-20s last year.
Alan Judge is set to join Brentford on loan from Blackburn Rovers next week while Patrick Bamford, the young Chelsea striker who has been a long time target for the FAI despite having represented England at various youth levels, has gone on loan to Derby County until the end of the season.
