Ireland need a goalscorer, and Scott Hogan is eligible and scoring for fun at the moment.
The Brentford striker has scored 14 goals in 2016, more than any other player in the Championship this year, and has seven in 10 games already this season.
Hogan, who qualifies through his Irish grandparents, has been on the radar of the Republic of Ireland management team for some time, with both Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane going watch him play for the Bees.
Scott Hogan explains why he won't be playing for Ireland anytime soon https://t.co/f08v3RIbzU
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) September 22, 2016
The 24-year-old, who was playing non-league football just three years ago, has said he wants to concentrate on playing for Brentford and getting into the Premier League for the time being, but the situation could be resolved within the coming weeks according to Keane.
The Republic of Ireland assistant manager told the media on Tuesday that O’Neill is due to meet the Salford-born striker in the next few weeks, and praised Hogan’s ability.
“He looks a really good player, a proper goalscorer,” said Keane.
“Please God, he would like to come on board with us because I think we would be good for him as well.
“The manager has touched base with the player and I think he is due to try meet up in the next few weeks. The manager is looking after that and it would be great to get him involved.
“Any player that qualifies for Ireland and is scoring goals week in, week out in the Championship, then we have to consider them. It’s as simple as that, because of the shortage of strikers we have.”
If O’Neill gets to meet the player in the next few weeks, possibly ahead of Ireland’s World Cup qualifier away to Austria on November 12, then the situation could be resolved, which is encouraging as it would mean we won’t witness another Jack Grealish-style saga.
Martin O'Neill is not a pushy individualhttps://t.co/5ElaeRpyip
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) September 23, 2016
The Ireland manager will also be able to gauge Hogan’s interest in playing for Ireland, or whether he hopes to follow in the footsteps of Jamie Vardy by rising from non-league to England international.
What’s in no-doubt is that Ireland could really do with a goalscorer, and the lack of strikers coming through or being developed means O’Neill and Keane have no choice but to pursue a player in such rich form.
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