“Excited to get going.”
Harry Arter and Conor Hourihane will be hoping to return from their international breaks, to new clubs, in winning form. Lee O’Connor is also on the move.
The two Ireland internationals have had their medium-term future sorted after securing loan moves. Hourihane is moving from Aston Villa to Sheffield United, in the Championship, while Arter is going from Championship strugglers Nottingham Forest to Charlton Athletic.
While Charlton are currently in League One, Arter says is enthused by the switch. He commented:
“It’s great for me to come back to the club where it all started as a young boy and see some of the faces, such as [Academy Manager] Steve Avory, who have played such a big part in my football development. It will be great to come back and hopefully help the club progress and do well.”
While Harry Arter is returning to an old stomping ground, Conor Hourihane is making a fresh start.
Hourihane would have been hoping to stick it out at Villa after captaining them in their recent League Cup victory. However, he does not appear to be part of manager Dean Smith’s long-term plans. He was loaned out to Swansea, last season, and will soon be off to Bramall Lane to link up with the Blades.
“This is the sort of club I was looking to get to,” the Cork native told the Sheffield United website.
“I know lads that are here – John Egan, Enda Stevens and David McGoldrick – and I’ve played here, plenty of times, against Sheffield United. The fans, the stadium, the atmosphere – there can be a really good buzz.”
Hourihane recalled how a Fulham side managed by United coach Slaviša Jokanović denied Villa promotion to the Premier League in 2018. “I’m really looking forward to get going and hit the ground running, after the international break… I’ve played against his teams before and they play a good style of football. Hopefully I can make an impact, and bring something to the group.”
Hourihane says he is hoping to get as many minutes under his belt on Ireland duty. With the likes of Jason Knight, Robbie Brady and James McCarthy all out of the Ireland squad, he should certainly get that.
Lee O’Connor, meanwhile, is off for a second loan spell at Tranmere Rovers. The Waterford native spent last season on loan with Rovers from the Scottish side and that deal has been renewed for the first part of the season. Tranmere are currently in League Two.
