HOPES FOR BIGGER IMPACT AT TOP END OF GAME
move from Burnley to Wolves — potentially worth €32.5m to The Clarets when all the addon clauses are triggered — was not manufactured.
It was the genuine uplifting effect it had on Irish football.
Similarly, fans’ hopes of personal success for the defender was mixed with their belief that his emergence can be a catalyst for future success.
The same applies to Gavin Bazunu’s €14m move from Manchester City to Southampton, where it is hoped he will become first choice this season.
Down the south coast, Kenny already has a first-choice Premier League keeper in Bournemouth’s Mark Travers, whose outstanding contribution to The Cherries’ promotion went under the radar to some degree.
With Caoimhin Kelleher’s pedigree underlined two seasons ago, Ireland are superbly catered for in the goalkeeping department until into the middle part of the next decade.
At the back, Andrew Omobamidele’s troublesome back injury has cleared up and he is now excellently placed to join Collins as the long-term Irish central defensive pairing — or two thirds of it if the side continues with three.
Dara O’Shea — another player who suffered with a nasty injury last season — is also coming good as his superb night in Lodz in June suggested.
Kenny still has Seamus Coleman, Shane Duffy, John Egan, Darragh Lenihan and Jimmy Dunne to consider for roles here, with Duffy and Egan the likely duo to feature in the coming months.
Josh Cullen’s magnificent Burnley debut in their 1-0 Championship victory at Huddersfield Town last Friday was most welcome.
Callum O’Dowda looked sharp and confident for Cardiff City, his neat shuffle on the ball helping to set up his side’s winner against Norwich City.
Injury
A fully fit O’Dowda can make a difference for Ireland but, unfortunately, you must apply a rather large ‘if’ when referencing the wide man’s availability given his injury history.
Of some concern was the continued absence of Adam Idah for The Canaries in that match.
Idah had started to suggest that he could make the transition to top-flight football when his serious knee injury struck in the middle of last season.
He needs to play regularly for his club and return to the Irish attack next month or for the November friendlies.
Troy Parrott’s progress in the final months of last season continued into the June internationals, with his 80 minutes in the 1-1 Nations League draw away to Ukraine by far his most impressive in the green shirt.
Strong with the ball, Parrott bossed top-class defenders, while his passing and thought process were excellent.
Pace wil never be a strength but if can find a strike partner — or partners — then the most cornering area of the Ireland team may experience a turn for the better. (left)
Michael Obafemi certainly possesses the talent to become a senior international striker, even if his glaring miss for Swansea City at the weekend left those who saw it openmouthed in disbelief.
Chiedozie Ogbene only required 16 minutes to get his season’s tally off the mark as he intuitively back-headed a deflected long throw over Swansea keeper Andy Fisher into the goal that Obafemi somehow contrived to miss during the second half.
Obafemi will enjoy better moments while Ogbene will face frustrating days as weeks extend into months.
Most importantly for Ireland, they need to build strongly on the past year to ensure that Ireland’s attack once more packs a bite.