NO SU BSTITUTE

Bazunu: There is nothing better than playing games.. it’s giving me experience and confidence

WOULD Caoimhin Kelleher be Ireland’s first-choice goalkeeper right now were it not for the shoulder injury Alisson Becker suffered last year?

It’s a question the Corkman must have asked himself countless times because the chain of events is certainly bittersweet for him.

Kelleher was poised to move to a top flight Dutch club on loan until the Liverpool No.1 shipped that knock that kept him out for a month.

The deal was pulled as Kelleher was promoted to second-choice at Anfield behind Adrian only to then leapfrog him as Jurgen Klopp’s preferred back-up.

At 22, he cannot quibble with his lot, having played Premier League and Champions League football for one of the giants of the English game.

His only gripe can come at international level where he has seen Gavin Bazunu steal such a march that he is Ireland’s new go-to man.

Bazunu is not only playing regularly on loan at Portsmouth from Man City but excelling, having done the same at Rochdale last season.

And while he takes nothing for granted with Kelleher breathing down his neck, the 19-year-old knows the value of that regular run of games.

Bazunu said yesterday: “My opinion was always game time, that was most important and it’s why I went on loan to Rochdale and now Portsmouth.

“I’m 100% sure that I wouldn’t be anywhere near the position I am now without having that backing of games and having that experience and this confidence. It’s just because of the amount of games that I’ve got under my belt. For me, playing games is the most important thing.”

It’s a sentiment that could apply across Stephen Kenny’s senior squad.

Particularly so with seven League One players – Bazunu and Troy Parrott are on loan from the Premier League admittedly – in this squad to play Azerbaijan.

Irish players are finding it harder to make it at the top end Premier League clubs so what is the best solution?

Bench time at bigger clubs, or playing regularly somewhere in the Championship or even League One?

Bazunu said: “It’s really down to the players as different players have different aspirations and goals.

“It can be difficult for some players to be in the Premier League and struggling a bit whereas some players are in the Championship and really thriving.

“It’s down to those players and if they believe they are good enough to step up and play in the Premier League, all credit to them.

“My personal opinion is that you should always try and play at the highest level you can.”

That’s an issue Bazunu will have to address himself as he has refused to play down his dream of becoming Manchester City’s No.1.

City recently knocked back Serie A clubs who were chasing his signature and handed him a new contract instead.

But would Bazunu be prepared to bide his time by sitting on the bench - at City or elsewhere and just play a handful of League Cup games?

“That’s the difficult possible next step to my career where I have to make a decision there,” he said.

“I’ve not made a decision on that yet but my priority will always be to try to get as many games as I can because I don’t want to be sitting on the bench.”

quick fix, it’s not going to be a temporary solution.

“This is a long-term plan to get us into a position where these young lads will be able to break through into this team and challenge the best teams in the world.

“That’s the aim. I see massive progress over the last few games and I see where we’re going as a group and I feel that’s what a lot of the other players think.”

In this campaign, Ireland have struggled against the lower ranked Azeris and

Luxembourg. And Bazunu, 19, admitted there has been soul searching within the squad as to why that is.

“We have looked at it and we have mentioned it in meetings,” he said.

“We have noticed when we have a lot more of the ball, we have struggled with that.

“We’re trying to rectify that and see how we can improve in games when we have more of the ball and be a threat to those opponents.”