Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
IT LUX LIKE ROB’S READY TO START Everyone is Gorman after Utd
ROBBIE BRADY is pushing for a start against Luxembourg after catching Stephen Kenny’s eye in training.
The Burnley winger came off the bench for the closing 11 minutes of Wednesday’s defeat to Serbia.
Kenny said: “Robbie’s had an ongoing Achilles problem and hasn’t been training or playing regularly with Burnley.
“He was off for a few weeks with it as it was troubling him.
“He came back and played 20 minutes, then had two 20/25-minute cameos as a substitute, so he’s not been playing regularly. But in the couple of days’ training with us, he has presented a lot better than I expected.
“He trained very well today and I didn’t expect him to be at that level because he’s a player who sometimes needs to find a rhythm.
“When he wasn’t playing and didn’t have a rhythm in his play, he didn’t look quite the same player.
“But all of a sudden, he got a good run of games after Christmas which is great.”
LATE CAMEO Robbie Brady played the last 11 minutes against Serbia on Wednesday
Kenny has spoken before of wanting to get Brady back to his Euro 2016 best and yesterday he added: “He’s certainly an option tonight.” ZAARON CONNOLLY is out of tonight’s clash after a day of mixed messages in the camp.
The Brighton striker carried a rib issue in the Serbia game but was passed fit and started up front.
But he shipped a foot injury in the second-half and had to come off with 20 minutes left.
Yesterday, the FAI tweeted Connolly was ruled out of the Luxembourg game and Tuesday’s friendly with Qatar in Hungary.
But when asked in his press conference later in the day how big a blow that was, Kenny claimed Connolly was merely ‘very doubtful’.
While he privately knew Connolly was out, he hadn’t realised the FAI tweeted the news earlier in the day.
Callum Robinson partnered Connolly in attack in Belgrade and is fit to play while James Collins, Shane Long and Troy Parrott are the other strikers in contention.
AINE O’GORMAN knows everyone is gunning for Peamount United as their quest for three leagues in-a-row begins today.
Last season’s double winners are the favourites to clinch the Women’s National League but face a tough opener away to Wexford Youths.
Every game this season will be streamed live for the first time, but Ireland international O’gorman expects players to embrace that pressure.
“It’s something we should welcome with open arms. There will be a lot more coverage of games,” said the Peamount star.
“Hopefully we can build more of a fan base in the Women’s National League and fans come and watch when crowds are allowed back.
“It’s up to us as players to keep our standards high so it’s an attractive league to watch.”
Peamount face a difficult opener away to Wexford Youths today and Ireland centurion O’gorman knows the champions will have a target on their backs.
“You always want to beat the champions and get a scalp. Everyone is going to be up for it when they play Peamount.” she added.
“We need to keep our standards high and deliver. The teams that finished in the bottom four last season are set up better tactically now.”
SSE Airtricity have branched out to sponsor the WNL for the first time, alongside their continued deal with the men’s League of Ireland.
TODAY’S FIXTURES: Athlone Town v Shelbourne (4pm), Bohemians v Treaty United (2pm), Galway v Cork City
(4pm), Wexford Youths v Peamount United (4pm).