‘Kenny should look at our boys – this is a level above LOI’
INTERNATIONAL recognition by Stephen Kenny for the burgeoning Irish contingent at St Mirren would not be overdue or out of place, according to Jim Goodwin.
Players like Jake Doyle-Hayes, Jamie McGrath and Conor McCarthy are delivering in the Scottish Premiership and Goodwin reckons they should be in Kenny’s thoughts in this World Cup qualifying year.
‘A lot of League of Ireland players are getting mentioned and getting involved which is great, but the Scottish Premier League in my opinion is a level above,’ said Goodwin.
‘If they are going to consider lads from the League of Ireland then they have to start looking at the boys over here as well.
‘Jake Doyle-Hayes was released from Villa last year, he’s so comfortable on the ball in the middle of the park, he makes us tick. We’ve only lost a couple of games since he came in.
‘Conor McCarthy is a right-sided centre-half, quick, strong, very comfortable on the ball. Those two lads, only 22, would have to be in the reckoning.
‘Ireland are relatively strong in those areas. I know we’re crying out for a clinical striker. Unfortunately, we can’t help on that front.’
Goodwin, who left home for Celtic at 16, makes no bones about recruiting Irish players, but acknowledges the ‘Irish market fits into our wage structure.’
‘I don’t necessarily go out of my way to sign Irish players but in certain instances, players became available and we needed players in their positions so we went for them. The boys we brought over from Ireland, Conor McCarthy and Jamie McGrath, I watched them and thought they would really do well in the SPFL, which they have.
‘You know what you’re going to get with the Irish lads. They don’t have any airs or graces. They’re happy to come in and get on with their job.
‘They’re not high maintenance. Nine times out of ten they’re good lads who want to work hard, improve and don’t give you any trouble.’
‘I know when the chips are down, they’ll fight for every ball.’
Few fought harder through his career than Goodwin who cherishes his sole Ireland cap, gained against Finland in a friendly in 2002, where he replaced Robbie Keane for the final 12 minutes in Helsinki.
He signed for Celtic as a central midfielder but was switched to centre-half by Carlton Palmer when he left Parkhead for Stockport County that same year and it was there he embarked on a distinguished career as a no-nonsense defender.
While there were no more Irish appearances, Goodwin keeps in regular contact with his Euro comrades of ’98, including fellow Waterford native John O’Shea, Andy Reid and Graham Barrett, agent to Jack Byrne among others.
‘It’s a great group of lads.’ Goodwin doesn’t do schmaltz but you know he’d be chuffed if any of his ‘Buddies’ earned a senior international call-up.
Reaching the Scottish League Cup final today would represent further progress for both manager, and his players.