I KNEW HE’D REACH THE GIGGTIME
Wales boss Ryan hails Ireland ace Brady ahead of Nations meetings
RYAN GIGGS is not surprised that Robbie Brady has cracked it as an international player.
And once the Republic of Ireland and Burnley star returns from injury next season, he expects him to be a thorn in his side.
Giggs is the new Wales boss and the Dragons host Martin O’neill’s Boys in Green in the Nations League opener on September 6.
That Cardiff clash will see former Manchester United team-mates Giggs and Roy Keane square off in the dugouts.
But Brady was also a
Red Devils team-mate of Giggs during their Old Trafford days and the Wales manager insists he has talent to burn.
Brady joined United as a youth in 2008 and made one first team appearance in the League Cup before joining Hull City in 2013, where he had been on loan.
But he left an impression on Giggs who revealed how the confident Dubliner used to brush him off the ball to take free kicks in training.
Giggs (inset) said: “Robbie is a really good lad and he always wanted to improve. When he was younger he could play right wing or left-back.
“He had that quality, he could attack or defend. It’s always good when you see players you know who’ve not quite made it at United go on to have a successful career.” Giggs wasn’t the manager when James Mcclean’s goal at Cardiff City Stadium ended Wales’ World Cup dreams in October but he admits revenge will be the order of the day in September and again for the return clash at Aviva Stadium on October 16.
Giggs took a mean free kick in his day and knows that aspect of Brady’s game will be a weapon for Ireland when they meet.
“Sometimes he pushed me out of the way,” laughed Giggs, recalling training sessions at United. “Robbie’s got quality on set pieces. He’s got an injury at the moment and with Ireland since under-16 level and is now an under-21 international.
O’neill (inset) ran the rule over the 19-year-old defender during a three-day training camp in Cork before last summer’s senior team trip to America.
But while he was cut from that squad, he remains in O’neill’s sights having made 19 appearances for the Hammers this season. England boss Southgate (far right) is also keen and said: “We are aware of him and hopefully he has a speedy recovery. Burnley are a good team for him. They have a strong work ethic, which Robbie will give them because of his quality.”
Brady is not expected to feature for club or country again this season after suffering a serious knee injury in December.
The 25-year-old injured it in an awkward challenge with his former Hull team-mate Harry Maguire in a defeat to Leicester City.
He left the pitch on a stretcher and it was later confirmed that he tore his patellar tendon.
While Burnley have not put a specific time on Brady’s return, that injury generally carries a four to six months spell on the sidelines.
They have signed experienced winger Aaron Lennon from Everton as cover. we are aware of his situation. He is somebody whom we know with our technical department and it is more one for Dan Ashworth as technical director than for me as senior manager.
“We are across every young player and, of course, there are plenty of young players with dual nationality. Wales have several players who have been in our system and who’ve got caps, we are always looking.”
O’neill is likely to call him up for the March friendly in Turkey but all eyes will be on September’s Nations League opener against Wales in Cardiff.
FIFA confirmed that those games will be ‘competitive’ and therefore Rice would be tied down with Ireland if picked by O’neill.
The manager said: “I don’t think it’s any major surprise to see him break through, particularly when West Ham were having some difficulties. The very fact that the manager puts him in in those circumstances, I think that speaks volumes for him.”