Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
A COLL TO ARMS
Mccarthy pencils in Luton striker James to lead line in Tbilisi despite clamour to throw in starlet Aaron
IN David Mcgoldrick’s absence, Mick Mccarthy has four strikers vying to lead the line in Georgia today but the spotlight shines on two with just one cap between them.
With Callum Robinson and James Mcclean expected to start on the right and left of a front three respectively, all eyes will be on who plays the lone role in attack.
And while Scott Hogan and Sean Maguire have claims of their own, the Luton Town striker James Collins could yet be the big winner.
Indeed, Mccarthty emphatically dismissed any concerns about pitching a player with just 30 minutes of international football – in a friendly – into the melting pot.
Brighton starlet Aaron Connolly (right), 19, is the talking horse of this particular race following his elevation to senior ranks from the Under-21s.
And on the back of his two-goal heroics against Tottenham last Saturday, Mccarthy must decide whether to strike while the iron is hot and hand him a first cap.
There is no doubt the Galway livewire will bring something to the party and has game-changer written all over him.
But the smart money is on him being held in reserve with Collins tasked with the lone role having made a scoring impression on debut off the bench against Bulgaria.
Mccarthy said last night: “It’s interesting how I’m sure people are pushing for Aaron Connolly to make a start.
“He hasn’t had any international football at all and hasn’t been in the squad up until now.
“Why would I not (trust Collins to play despite his lone cap)? Because I trust the players when they come in. I trust them for what they do and how they go in training.
“It’s not only just seeing him in the half an hour of international football where I thought he was
excellent, actually.
“It’s when he comes and trains with the lads and he doesn’t look out of place. He’s fitted in and he looks every bit the international player.
“There’s no point having them in the squad if I don’t. You have got to believe in him and I would with him, if I’m going to play him.”
Collins, 28, has been a journey man having left Aston Villa and bounced around Shrewsbury, Swindon, Hibs, Northampton Town, Crawley Town and now Luton.
But Mccarthy insists he has the strength of character to deal with an important role if tasked with it in steamy Tbilisi today.
“He’s as mentally strong as any of the others that have been upfront, I’ve no doubt about that.
“He’s been around a long time and that’ll give him his mental strength and he’s scored wherever he’s been.
“To get in the squad, how he’s done it, shows a huge amount of dedication, hard work and mental strength to keep going and get his cap and his first goal. If I decide to pick him, I’ve no worries about him.”
Ireland legend Richard Dunne said this week that Connolly’s enthusiasm reminds him of Robbie Keane when he first burst onto the scene. But Mccarthy isn’t buying that – not yet at least.
“If you don’t mind I’ll wait and see him have a few games and see how he does before I start comparing him to Robbie Keane in any shape or form,” he said. “We should just let him make his debut when he does and let’s see how he does. I’d love to be comparing him to Robbie at some stage but I’m not going to start that now.
“Aaron can play on the left, that’s where I first really saw him. He was devastating playing from that position for the 21s.
“But he plays up front in a two with Brighton so he’s an option there as well. He’s been very good, he hasn’t looked out of place in training.”
Connolly thought his call-up was a prank when Mccarthy phoned him and the Ireland boss laughed yesterday: “There’s a number of people who take me off fairly well!.”