IF football management is about timing, then new Republic of Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson’s might have timed his run quite well ahead of next month’s Uefa Nations League double header against England and Greece in Dublin.
Although FAI deadlines came and went in the interminable search for Stephen Kenny’s successor – not helped by Hallgrimsson’s own desire to see out the Copa America with Jamaica in the summer – the Iceland native arrives with a physically imposing front line at his disposal, boosted by the Kasey McAteer’s recruitment.
Hallgrimsson’s Iceland teams were always physically imposing all over the pitch – and he now as some very good attacking options with Ireland, undoubtedly a 23-man squad that had significant input from John O’Shea who minded the reins in the absence of a permanent manager.
Kenny wasn’t blessed with the same options as his eventual successor.
For starters, Adam Idah was only learning his trade at senior international level, Evan Ferguson came to the party a season too late, and Sammie Szmodics and Kasey McAteer weren’t on Ireland’s radar.
Indeed, the best thing to emerge from O’Shea’s interim reign – and it can probably be classed as such given that he was in charge for two international windows last season – was Sammie Szmodics.
Physically imposing, quick, and equally adept at playing as a central striker, a number 10 or slightly left, Szmodics has muscled his way into Ireland’s starting team, and would appear to be the kind of player Hallgrimsson admires.
A 27-goal haul with Blackburn Rovers earned him a move to the English Premier League with new boys Ipswich Town earlier this month.
Sitting beside Hallgrimsson at yesterday’s squad briefing in the Aviva Stadium, assistant boss John O’Shea said: “Sammie was probably a bit frustrated that he was on the bench [starting with Ipswich] and he’s come on and you can see his reactions when he got the goal [against Man City].
“Look, it was great to get Sammie in and he did well. Hopefully that continues, and he’ll hopefully be an important player for us.”
Nodding with approval, Hallgrimsson added: “His directness is what really pleases me. He’s really direct, he’s unafraid going forward, taking players on, quick-thinking, speed in him and, like John said, a lot of confidence.”
Ferguson might have suffered a couple of blips in form with Brighton last season and still hasn’t featured at club level in the early throes of this campaign – but Hallgrimsson called up the 19-year-old striker to boost his attacking options to face Euro 2024 finalists England on September 7.
“He [Evan] has some quality that’s good to have,” said the new manager.
“We’ll see in the five days in training how fit he is. He’s fit enough to be in the squad for Brighton, no objections from the club that we selected him. Hopefully he’s fitter than everybody thinks. We’ll see in training.”
Chiedozie Ogbene, now a club-mate of Szmodics at Ipswich, is back on the international scene after injury, while Troy Parrott may not have found the net for his new club AZ Alkmaar, but he too is another six-footer in Hallgrimsson’s midst.
Idah’s star continues to rise with Celtic after making his loan spell permanent.
The recruitment of Kasey McAteer, whose grandfather hails from Belfast, is another six-footer for the new manager to run the rule over.
The 22-year-old will be hoping to make his international debut against either England or Greece – and showed moments of real quality in helping Leicester City’s successful promotion push.
And Callum Robinson, arguably the most consistent striker during Kenny’s time in charge, brings a bit of international experience and rejoins the squad after scoring for Cardiff City in the derby with Swansea City last weekend.