A welcome boost for Martin O’Neill.
The Republic of Ireland’s striking options for Friday’s first-leg Euro 2016 play-off against Bosnia-Herzegovina has looked pretty limited.
Shane Long is yet to return to full fitness following an injury, Jonathan Walters is suspended and Robbie Keane is unlikely to be used in up-front on his own.
All indications pointed towards Daryl Murphy starting. The Ipswich Town striker got the nod against both Scotland and Germany, and, should the O’Neill start him on Friday, he’ll go into the game on the back of a hat-rick for the Championship side.
Murphy was the difference for Ipswich today as they ran out 5-2 winners against Rotherham United, scoring three impressive goals.
Daryl Murphy’s hat-trick against Rotherham United! Good goals from the Irishman!!! #itfc pic.twitter.com/NDzq8Y64j9
— Ipswich Town Talk (@IpswichTownTalk) November 7, 2015
You might be thinking that Bosnia’s striker Eden Dzeko scored for Roma in the Champions League mid-week, so we shouldn’t get too excited about Murphy’s exploits.
But we’ll take any positive developments we can at this point.
