Josh ready to become key Cog in Zola’s new machine
BIRMINGHAM City youngster Josh Dacres-Cogley has been buoyed by the confidence placed in him by Gianfranco Zola.
The young right-back is in the middle of his breakthrough season, having made six appearances for the first team.
The most recent of those came in difficult circumstances against Newcastle in Saturday’s FA Cup tie when he was thrown into the fray after an injury to Jonathan Spector.
The 20-year-old came on just before half-time and proceeded to have arguably his best half of his short career.
Depending on how Spector recovers from his hip flexor injury, Dacres-Cogley could be in line to stay in the team when Nottingham Forest visit St Andrew’s on Saturday.
Despite the change in management after Zola replaced Gary Rowett, he is pleased with the way his campaign is going.
“I can tell he (Zola) has got a lot of confidence in me, he has kept me around and he wants me to keep doing what I am doing and showing what I can do,” said Dacres-Cogley.
“Everyone is in the same boat, you have just got to keep doing what you do, playing how you play and work hard. Then if the manager doesn’t take to you, he doesn’t take to you.
“But if he does then you can keep on proving you are good enough. The signs are good. I have just got to keep working hard to try and get in the team permanently.”
Despite his positive display against Newcastle, first in direct opposition to Massadio Haidara, then against Matt Ritchie, the homegrown full-back is refusing to take anything for granted.
“You have always got to be ready in case the gaffer says he needs you. I have just got to get myself mentally prepared so that if I do come on I can perform,’’ said Dacres-Cogley.
“Hopefully I did that against Newcastle, although I think I can do better.
“It’s one of those: you have just got to take the game as it comes to you and I felt I got forward quite a few times and put a few good balls into the box so that’s a positive to take from the game.
“Is there more licence in this system?
“Yes and no. You have got to pick and choose when to go forward and when to stay because you don’t want to be exposed at the back. You want to be nice and narrow so no-one can break you down.
“I like to get forward anyway so whenever the opportunity comes I will try to do that.”
Blues fans might not want it to consider it but Lukas Jutkiewicz could be playing himself into contention for international football – with the Republic of Ireland.
It turns out the English-born striker, with Lithuanian heritage, might be eligible to wear the green of Ireland though he admits: “I am not sure of my eligibility myself!”
The development stems from the fact Jutkiewicz’s paternal grandmother was Irish, though it is not clear whether she was born in the Emerald Isle – which would allow Jutkiewicz to play – or moved there at a young age, which wouldn’t.
However, when asked about the issue the 27-year-old signing from Burnley approached the topic with his customary modesty.
Asked if Republic manager Martin O’Neil had been in touch, he said: “I won’t hold my breath.
“I would embrace anyone wanting me in their squad or team but I don’t know if I would even be wanted. Certainly anyone wants to play international football.
“With a name like Jutkiewicz they probably don’t even know I’m English.”
That is not to say Southamptonborn Jutkiewicz will never get that phone call because in the post-Robbie Keane era, Ireland seem to be casting their net far and wide.
Their only options in their most recent squad, the World Cup qualifier against Austria in November, contained two 33-year-olds – Stoke’s Jon Walters and Kevin Doyle, of the Colorado Rapids – plus Ipswich’s David McGoldrick.
Adam Rooney (Aberdeen), Shane Long (Southampton), Daryl Murphy (Newcastle), Simon Cox (Southend) and Anthony Stokes (Blackburn) are other contenders.
With ten goals, only Aberdeen’s Rooney from that international contender list has more than Jutkiewicz’s nine this season. The genealogy department at the FAI might just be in contact.