QPR’S DYNAMIC IRISH DUO EYE UNDER-21S JOY
ONE PLAYED with a shoulder that was hanging by a thread and the other raced from Dublin to Cork just after his senior Ireland debut.
There can be no doubting the commitment of Ireland’s Under-21 stars as they return to Euro 2025 qualification action this month.
Joe Hodge and Sinclair Armstrong, teammates at international level, are now playing together at QPR too, thanks to midfielder Hodge’s recent loan move from Wolves.
Ireland Under-21 captain Hodge recalled how he travelled to Latvia last October for a crucial 2-1 win just days after he dislocated his shoulder in training.
“I was struggling a bit,” recalled the 21-year-old. “It came out twice in the week before the Latvia game, so I was just doing my best to get through the game. We managed to get the win, so that was good.”
As much as he battled through the pain barrier to get through the Latvia game, the injury kept Hodge out of the next window — a defeat in Norway and a draw at home to Italy.
“I was gutted, I had to make a decision to go and get it sorted, because I was in some amount of pain with it, so I had to get it sorted before the next camp,” he said.
“But that just means I’m looking forward even more to coming in, because having missed the last one I’m looking forward to (San Marino).”
As for striker Armstrong (inset), he made his senior Ireland debut as a sub in the September defeat to the Netherlands. Three days later he spearheaded the attack as the Under-21s won 3-0 against San Marino in Cork.
Gaffer
“Listen, it’s all about commitment,” said Armstrong. “As soon as I got the text after the game saying the gaffer (Jim Crawford) wanted me down, all I wanted to do was leave Castleknock as soon as possible and get straight down to
Cork.
“What Jim has done to the group has been unbelievable. When lads are playing, when they are not playing, we are all so supportive of each other.
“He has built that kind of atmosphere and togetherness in the group. The group is so tight and you can see that in the games that we are playing.”
Next up for the 21s is a trip to Serravalle on March 22 to take on San Marino, while Italy are at home to Latvia on the same day.
The Italians are a point ahead of Crawford’s side, thanks to their fortunate last-gasp draw in Cork late last year.
But confidence is high that the Boys in Green can finally beat their Euros hoodoo at Under21 level and achieve a first ever qualification.
History
“We still want to make it right, what happened in Israel last year,” said Hodge, recalling the play-off penalty shootout heartache last time out.
He wants to push into the senior set-up sooner rather than later, but is ready to play his part in the Under-21s’ push for history until the time comes to step up.
“He (Armstrong) has already done it, but for me I want to play for the senior team as fast as possible. I think it’s the same for everyone in the Under-21 squad,” said the midfielder. “But we both love being around the 21s as well. Every time we are there we really enjoy it.
“While we are there we just want to win as many games as we can and hopefully this can be the time that we qualify.”
It’s been a big season for both players at club level, with maiden firstteam goals for the pair.
Armstrong even provided the assist for Hodge’s strike in a 2-1 win away to Blackburn on his debut for QPR.
As for the former Shamrock Rovers prospect, he opened his senior account in a 2-1 win away to Cardiff last August.
He has followed that up with goals against Bournemouth, Millwall and Leicester.
After drawing a blank last year, Armstrong was relieved to get off the mark so early in this campaign. “It was very, very important. I try to forget last season as much as possible, because last season didn’t work for me.”