SCORE BELIEF
Maguire: I’m not here to replace Robbie, but I back myself in front of goal.. given a chance
SEAN MAGUIRE has told Martin O’neill he can be the answer to his goalscoring problems.
Maguire has returned from injury just in time for Ireland’s two home Nations League games against Denmark and Wales.
The 24-year-old has suffered a couple of serious hamstring injuries in the space of 12 months since moving to Preston North End last year.
But despite those set-backs, Maguire is a hit at Deepdale with 10 goals in 19 appearances for the Championship club.
He made his Ireland debut last October against Moldova and has won two senior caps but has yet to score at international level.
Since Robbie Keane’s Ireland retirement two years ago, no frontman has managed to step into the void left by the country’s record marksman.
“I don’t think anyone can ever replace Robbie Keane,” Maguire said.
“You seen the amount of goals he scored for his club and his country. To be mentioned in the same category is an honour in itself.
“But I would back myself to score goals. It’s just about getting the opportunity.
“Once I do get that first goal I think it will just take care of
itself.”
The former Cork City striker returned to action in the 4-0 win over Wigan last Saturday, when he came on after 75 minutes. He hasn’t started a game since suffering the injury 10 weeks ago.
He left for Dublin with Preston boss Alex Neil sending a cautionary note to O’neill to use his player wisely.
Asked how long he could play against the Danes and the Welsh, Maguire replied: “It’s hard to say, I’ve only played a couple of 45 minutes, 20 minutes.
“I back myself to score goals if I start the game. Even if I only come on for a couple of minutes, I’ll always back myself to score – and hopefully I can do that in these next two very important games.
“There’s no better place to do it in front of your home fans and hopefully they can be our 12th man come Saturday and Tuesday.”
Maguire believes there are two attacking spots up for grabs in O’neill’s formation. There are five forwards in the squad – Shane Long, Callum Robinson, Scott Hogan, O’brien and Maguire.
“Everyone is fighting everyone else going into training,” he said. “We have to put in 110%.
“You have to prove to the manager you are well capable of playing a part in the games.
“I train the way I play. It’s why I’ve probably had hamstring injuries, because of the way I play – there’s only two speeds with me, either walking or sprinting.
“When we don’t have the ball, I’m walking back and when we have it then it’s a just a burst of energy.
“I’ve had to work on that the last 10 weeks, where I’ve had to change my game a little. But I don’t think I’ll be able to do that – changing my game would hamper the way I play.”
It would be a massive boost to Maguire if he gets the nod on Saturday, either from the start or off the bench.
“It’s been a mad year, really,” he added. “But it’s been a lot more downs than ups, I feel.
“I’ve had two serious injuries. I came back from the first injury and done quite well, obviously this time last year I made my international debut and then my first start against Turkey.
“It’s been stop-start. From last year, being on the bench and that mad game against Wales with Jimmy (Mcclean) scoring the winner that got us into the play-offs and then thinking I’ll play a crucial part in the play-offs.
“And then I break down and get a serious injury.
“Obviously at the start of this year, I was flying coming back and getting my first start, I thought, ‘Yes, here we go’.
“But then I got a little niggle in the Celtic game, this time around was just about making sure I was 100% right and easing myself into it and making sure it doesn’t happen again.
“Hopefully this time around now can be much better.
“This time around I feel a lot sharper than I was the last time because I have eased myself into it.”
Even if I only come on for a couple of minutes, I will always back myself to score