OGBENE’S NATURAL INSTINCT
CHIEDOZIE OGBENE was ‘within his rights’ to shoot against Belgium rather than squaring to Seamus Coleman.
The Luton Town flyer burst into the box after three minutes and hit the side netting, but a simple pass to Coleman would have resulted in a tap-in.
Ireland captain Coleman had arrived unmarked at the back post and was screaming for the ball - but Ogbene ignored him.
Yet interim manager John O’shea has absolved the Cork man of blame in the 0-0 draw and insists it was merely a forward’s instinct at play.
“He’s an attacker and he wants to go for goal,” said O’shea ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Switzerland. “But we might do some extra training on that.
“It just comes down to decision making. If an attacking player is in front of goal in that area, he’s more than within his right to shoot.
“But sometimes if a fella is in a better position, then you’ll be arguing about it. That’s for sure.”
Ogbene has hit the ground running in the Premier League after stepping up to the top flight for the first time following his summer move from Rotherham.
He is already a fans’ favourite at Luton and equally so with Ireland having burst onto the scene in 2021 under Stephen Kenny.
O’shea worked with Ogbene when he was one of Kenny’s coaches last year and said: “He deserves everything he gets.
“That’s because of his attitude and his application. That’s the thing for me. He’s not surprising anyone who has worked with him or been involved with him before.
“He does everything he can he puts his body on the line for the team and he’s a massive threat.”
He’s a striker and he wants to go for goal – he was well within his rights there