Martin O’Neill to “step-up interest” in Championship striker

Martin O'Neill has made no secret of the fact he wants to recruit or find another striker for the Republic of Ireland.

"Somewhere along the way, we have to find a way, if we don't have a natural goalscorer, we have to find a way to win a game," O'Neill told Eir Sport earlier this week.

"We're not doing too badly (but) you'd still love to have a natural goalscorer in your team, the one who could turn a game, the one that you feel if the ball does drop in the penalty area, he would be there or thereabouts. "And we have a chance if that's the case. I'm not sure we have that in our team."

https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/788105299920031744 O'Neill was at pains to stress that his hunt for a "natural goalscorer" shouldn't be considered a slight against Shane Long. But with the Southampton striker not getting a game at club level, it's understandable that the Ireland manager would look to increase his options. Judging by his record, Lukas Jutkiewicz isn't that goalscorer Ireland are lacking, but reports on Thursday claim that O'Neill will "step-up" his attempt to get the forward to declare for Ireland. The Birmingham City striker, who was born in Southampton, is also eligible for his native England and Poland. He qualifies for Ireland through a grandparent. According to the Irish Daily Star, O'Neill will "step-up" his interest. The player has had a nomadic career, featuring for 11 clubs so far despite being just 27. Jutkiewicz has just completed a deal to sign for Birmingham, where he was on-loan from Burnley, for £1m. While he may be a late developer, and become a more prolific striker, it's fair to say Jutkiewicz hasn't found the net on a consistent basis in his career so-far. O'Neill's interest in the striker appears to signal the end of the pursuit of Scott Hogan. The in-form Brentford striker had been scouted by O'Neill and Roy Keane, and was touted with earning a call-up for Ireland's game against Austria in November. https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/779089642998099968 Hogan now appears unlikely to declare for Ireland, but could be set for a move to the Premier League. According to the Daily Mirror, West Brom, West Ham, Reading and Norwich City are all interested in signing him in January, and Brentford want £15m for him.