Not much rest for the wicked.
Jeff Hendrick and his two Ireland teammates, Cyrus Christie and Richard Keogh, will link up with Derby County in Portugal for the second week of their preseason tour.
Rams boss Nigel Pearson has told reporters that the trio, along with Northern Ireland’s Chris Baird, have been afforded a short break after their Euro 2016 exploits. Both countries reached the tournament’s second round and, having exited, returned home on June 27.
Ive just had the best few weeks of my life. Pleasure representing this great country 💚☘🇮🇪
— Jeff Hendrick (@JeffHendrick92) June 27, 2016
County play Vitoria Setubal on July 13 and Benfica the following Wednesday. The four players are set to arrive around July 16 and will be hoping to feature in the Benfica match.
Whether or not Hendrick is still at the club by then is another matter. Having been linked with a shock move to Galatasaray, last week, the 24-year-old is reportedly on the radar of three Premier League clubs.
Middlesbrough and Hull City had previously been reported as suitors for the Dubliner but The Sun have now added Burnley to the mix. Sean Dyche is said to be on the look-out for a centre midfielder after The Clarets failed to sign Joey Barton. The club already have Hendrick’s Ireland teammate Stephen Ward on their books.
The Northern Echo note that, were Hendrick to remain with the Championship club, he would face midfield competition from Grant Leadbitter, Adam Clayton, Adam Forshaw and Marten de Roon, who is set to join from Atalanta.
