Martin O’Neill, are you watching?
Scott Hogan has never appeared in a senior competitive game for the Republic of Ireland but his current form suggests that may not be the case for much longer.
The 25-year-old has hit the ground running in 2018 for Aston Villa. After scoring in successive Championship games against Bristol City and Nottingham Forest, the former Brentford forward fired a quick-fire double for Steve Bruce’s men against Barnsley on Saturday afternoon.
His first was a classic striker’s finish, slotting home at the near post to give Villa the lead after just five minutes. Two minutes later, he’d doubled his tally, meeting Robert Snodgrass’ cross with his head to make it 2-0 from point-blank range.
Suffice to say, the Aston Villa social media team were rather happy with his contributions.
GOAL! GOAL! GOAL!
This man is on fire! Two in as many minutes! 🔥🔥🔥#PartOfThePride #AVFC pic.twitter.com/o4QMKbgqtL
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 20, 2018
Hogan was called up to the Ireland squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Wales and the two subsequent play-off matches against Denmark but was an unused substitute in all four matches.
However, O’Neill said this week that upcoming friendlies against Turkey and France will present an opportunity to blood some of the youngsters he has available to him. With Hogan re-discovering his clinical streak at Villa Park, it will become increasingly difficult to overlook him.
But Hogan wasn’t the only promising piece of news for Ireland fans from Villa on Saturday as Conor Hourihane struck their third, piling the misery on Barnsley, the club he used to captain. The Cork native has impressed for Villa recently and, with three Ireland caps to his name, you’d expect the 26-year-old midfielder to be in the mix when O’Neill announces his squad for the friendly against Turkey in March.
GOAL! GOAL! GOAL!
Two-goal lead restored! @ConorHourihane nets against his old club. Villa lead 3-1! 👌#PartOfThePride #AVFC pic.twitter.com/hAXNcAskPH
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 20, 2018
