“I fully think he’ll get a call-up.”
Mick McCarthy’s first match in his second stint as Republic of Ireland manager is not until the end of March, but he has been busy since he was appointed as Martin O’Neill’s successor back in November.
McCarthy has spent the winter months scouting players and trying to add to his squad. It appears that he views centre-forward as a problem position and has been looking at potential new strikers.
Will Keane, the Ipswich Town forward who has scored just eight career goals, looks set to declare for Ireland. And McCarthy could add League One’s in-form striker to his squad.
The Republic of Ireland will have a new striker soon https://t.co/gUJYUBpbcb
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) February 19, 2019
James Collins has scored 19 goals already this season for Luton Town, helping the team reach the top of League One. The 28-year-old striker has represented Ireland at under-19 and under-21 levels and his club manager has tipped him to get a call-up to the senior Ireland squad.
“His movement’s magnificent in the box, he works his socks off and I fully think he’ll get a call-up and deservedly,” Mick Harford told Luton Today.
“I think they will definitely have a look at him. He’s in form, he’s the in-form striker in the league, scored 19 goals and everyone wants goalscorers.
“His movement’s magnificent in the box, he works his socks off and I fully think he’ll get a call-up and deservedly.
“We would all be delighted for him, obviously we’d miss him, but we’d be delighted for him.”
Collins is from Coventry and is eligible for Ireland through his Irish-born mother.
Ireland coach Robbie Keane scouted the player at Kenilworth Road earlier this month when Collins scored against Wycombe Wanderers.
So, it is possible the striker will be part of the squad for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Gibraltar and Georgia next month. The squad will be named on March 7.
