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12th August 2025
01:30pm BST
The Championship returned this weekend, and there were some standout performances from Irish players, while Troy Parrott is continuing to make waves in the Eredivisie.
Here's a round-up of this weekend's top performers, which we'll bring you every week.
Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifying campaign gets under way in September, hosting Hungary at the Aviva on September 6 before a trip to Armenia on September 9.
Gavin Bazunu - Southampton 2-1 Wrexham
This game may have been sold as Wrexham’s big leap into the Championship, but for Irish football fans it marked Gavin Bazunu’s return to the Southampton nets. Bazunu looked sharp throughout and pulled off some really important saves in the Saints’ dramatic win.
Troy Parrott - AZ Alkmaar 4-1 Groningen
Troy Parrott has started on a hot streak for AZ Alkmaar this season. The striker grabbed two goals in the Conference League midweek and followed that up with two more on the opening day of the Eredivisie against Groningen.
Ryan Manning - Southampton 2-1 Wrexham
Gavin Bazunu’s return was a good start in this game, but Ryan Manning’s equaliser stole the show. The left-back fired in an 89th minute free-kick to bring the game level. Southampton went on to grab a winner in injury time and break Wrexham hearts.
Brian Barry-Murphy - Port Vale 0-0 Cardiff
League One kicked-off last week and it was a fresh start at the helm for Brian Barry-Murphy at Cardiff City. His side won their opening game against Peterborough and remain unbeaten at the start of the season having drawn away at Port Vale this week.
Chiedozie Ogbene - Birmingham 1-1 Ipswich
It has been 287 days since Chiedoze Ogbene played for Ipswich Town after the winger suffered a ruptured Achilles, but he came back with a bang this weekend. Ogbene was one of the stand-out players for Ipswich as they settled back into life in the Championship with a draw against Birmingham.
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