The Republic of Ireland have a free slot for a forward in their squad, Scott Hogan is eligible and scoring a lot of goals.
Martin O’Neill should call him up, right? Well it would seem it’s not quite that simple.
The Brentford striker has scored an impressive 13 goals in 16 Championship appearances during 2016, including a hat-trick against Preston North End last weekend, and has been likened to Jamie Vardy.
O’Neill was in attendance to see Hogan, who is from Manchester and qualifies for Ireland through his grandparents, score the hat-trick on Saturday and is understood to have been monitoring his progress for a while.
Just call him up already! https://t.co/eCdqiaMuVU
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) September 19, 2016
However, Hogan has played down suggestions he’ll be joining up with the Irish team, and insisted his immediate focus is on helping Brentford get promoted to the Premier League.
“International honours is a big thing but there’s only one place I want to play my football at the minute and that is here,” Hogan said.
“I want to play Premier League football without a shadow of a doubt. Everybody here wants to do it. If Brentford can get there then brilliant.
“That’s where the headlines are and the glamour of playing big clubs, stadia and games. Everyone wants to play there.”
The 24-year-old has also suffered two serious knee injuries in the past two years, so that could be a factor in his decision to focus on his club career as he continues he return to action.
“I know we don’t go back on it but I have been out injured but it’s important to be playing as many games for Brentford at the moment.”
“They look after me, monitor my fitness and everything. Due to that I’ve played every minute this season which is some going after what’s happened.”
Hogan could end up in the Premier League before he plays for Ireland, with Swansea City linked with a January move for the player.
