Chris Hughton has turned to the Dubliner as he seeks to arrest a recent slump in form.
The Brighton & Hove Albion boss has named Richie Towell in the Albion starting XI for their FA Cup third round encounter with Hull City.
The former Dundalk attacker has been included in a team that includes Liam Ridgewell and Rohan Ince.
#BHAFC team v #HCFC: Maenpaa, Goldson, Dunk, Ridgewell; Calderon, Holla, Ince, Chicksen; Crofts, Towell, Manu. #HCFCvBHA #FACup
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) January 9, 2016
This is a further boost for Towell after he was named Irish Soccer Writers’ Personality of the Year for 2015.
On the Albion website, Towell said, “I know it will be difficult; getting 29 goals last season as a midfielder is good, and I know it will be a step up here. It’s down to me and I will need to work harder, and hopefully I will be able to rake in the rewards by getting goals for Brighton.”
Pre-match, Hughton commented, “I don’t think our form has been the problem. The issue has been that we have not found a way to win in the last few matches.
“We want to turn it around on Saturday whichever way we can and hopefully that will be a springboard to go on another run.
“There is a certain expectation, whoever comes into the team. What we have had here for large periods of the season is being able to perform at a good level. You have expectations within the squad and pressures from other players to perform for the team; that does not change because you are going into an FA Cup game.
“Saturday is about making sure we maintain our level, which has been good this season. Even in the games that we have lost.”
