MISSES BROWNE
O’neill admits Preston star Alan’s had forgettable start to Irish career but is backing him to be a hit
ALAN BROWNE’S struggled to bring his fine club form to the international stage but Martin O’neill is standing by the Preston midfielder.
The Corkman was crowned Player of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year and also nabbed Goal of the Year at Deepdale this past season.
He has thrived in a No10 role since Alex Neil succeeded Simon Grayson at the Championship club – and yet he hasn’t shown any real glimpses of that form for Ireland.
Admittedly, Browne has only won three caps but it was clear against France, Turkey and Mexico that he has a lot to learn at this level.
Roy Keane has often said that it took him 25 games to find his standing as an international player.
And ahead of Saturday’s clash with USA, O’neill backed the 23-year-old and said he too struggled with the jump when he was a player.
The former Northern Ireland captain said: “I played international football and in my early days as a player I found it very difficult, the matches were very, very hard.
“It was when I was playing European football with Nottingham Forest and winning big trophies that I found I could deal with it.
“I was 25, 26 at that time and I could deal with the football better. I don’t think that’s changed a bit, this is a massive step up – it’s incredible.
“The French were athletic and lean, brilliant on the ball and really good players. That’s not the player, with respect, that young Browne is playing against every single week.”
Browne said last week that the secret to his success this season with Preston was playing as a No10, rather than a traditional midfielder. But with Ireland he has to be flexible as O’neill does not tend to play that style.
O’neill said: “It’s nothing to do with a different role. He’s a midfield player for Preston. I’ve seen Browne over the last two years about 20 times and I don’t see his role changing.
“Sometimes he changes position which is what they want at Preston because they own him as a player.
“He played against France and that is a massive step up, an incredible step up and that’s what you have to try to cope with – that’s what these players have to try and do.
“They have to try and go from the football they play in the Championship where it’s very competitive and sometimes compelling but it’s not the quality that you’re talking about here.
“It’s a great experience even if he hasn’t come off all that well at the end. But talking about the step up, it’s day and night.”
Meanwhile, O’neill has two simple wishes going into the final game of the season against USA at Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
It will be veteran John O’shea’s final game for Ireland and the Green Army will want to give him a memorable send off.
But O’neill also wants to register a first win in four games and score a goal – something his team has only managed once in that same run.
Like Ireland, the USA failed to qualify for the World Cup and they were thumped 4-1 by the Boys in Green when they last met – in Dublin – four years ago.
O’neill said: “It’s been difficult trying to get goals but we have to try create enough chances to take one or two. That’s something we must strive for.
“Don’t think we can ever stop trying to improve.”