AARON SWEATER
Ireland & Brighton winger has put in the hard yards & is winning battle to return to fitness
Age Senior debut
U-21 goals
Games for Brighton
AARON CONNOLLY is fit again and ready to help Brighton beat the drop.
The Republic of Ireland international was expected to miss the rest of the regular season back in March when he had knee surgery.
Connolly damaged ligaments in a training ground collision and was struggling to feature again for his club, or in Ireland’s playoff with Slovakia which was then postponed twice.
But the Covid-enforced extension to the Premier League season means the Galway forward is back firing on all cylinders and ready to play his part.
Connolly is in Brighton’s squad for today’s home clash with Arsenal and Seagulls boss Graham Potter said: “He has come back well and worked hard after the break.
“The physios have done a really good job on him. He is looking good, he is looking fit and strong and sharp and I think he can definitely help us over nine matches.”
Connolly burst onto the Premier League scene in late August and through September but exploded into life in October with two cracking goals against Tottenham.
He was catapulted into the Ireland team after that and came off the bench in Georgia a week later before landing a start in Switzerland.
But the 20-year-old hasn’t scored since then and fell down the pecking order at Brighton.
But Potter believes that Connolly’s timely return to fitness could be a major boost for the Seagulls who are only two points clear of the drop zone.
“I think he will be ready to help us, that is for sure,” added Potter. “But he is a young player and a sprinter so you have to be careful with his recovery.”
Connolly’s return is also good news for Ireland boss Stephen Kenny who was a big fan of the speedster when he played in his Ireland under-21 team. But while Connolly is on the mend, Shane Long is facing a spell on the sidelines after missing Southampton’s clash with Norwich last night because of a muscle injury.
The Tipperary man was hoping to pick up where he left off before lockdown having bagged three goals in eight games.
But Long is comforted by knowing that he is back in the mix for Ireland having played a peripheral role under Mick Mccarthy.
New senior boss Stephen Kenny had words of encouragement for the 33-year-old who signed a two-year contract extension with the Saints earlier this month. Fitness permitting, Long should be in the squad for the Nations League games against Bulgaria and Finland in September, ahead of October’s key Euro 2020 play-off with Slovakia.
Kenny said: “I saw Shane play before the lockdown and he scored against Tottenham at their new stadium in the FA Cup.
“He scored a few goals generally in that period and we’re going to need competition in all areas.”