Five Ireland players named in Championship team of the week
The English Football League have announced their Championship team of the week following the latest round of fixtures and Ireland players make up almost half the side.
Five Ireland players in total make up the best eleven from the weekend's action with Blackburn Rovers' striker Sammie Szmodics named the highest rated player - according to the EFL and WhoScored.com - following his brace against Norwich City with both goals being created by Andrew Moran, who came second.
Szmodics, who is currently the English second tier's top goalscorer with nine so far this season, has yet to win his first Irish cap having been forced to pull out of the senior squad on two occasions after being called up by Stephen Kenny.
The 28-year-old Colchester-native, who qualifies for Ireland through his Longford born grandmother, pulled out of the Boys in Green's Euro 2024 qualifiers against Greece and Gibraltar in October for 'personal reasons' but is likely to be recalled for the upcoming competitive matches away to the Netherlands and the friendly against New Zealand later this month.
He could be joined by his in-form teammate Moran, who has impressed this season with Rovers on-loan from Brighton and Hove Albion while also becoming a key player for the Ireland U21 squad.
The 20-year-old is joined by Finn Azaz and Cork's Alan Browne in midfield in the team of the week. Azaz has featured for the Jim Crawford's U21 side and he was the third highest rated player in the team following his display in Plymouth Argyle's thrilling 3-3 draw against Middlesbrough in which he netted his club's second goal moments after creating their first.
Browne, who has won 33 Irish caps, also scored in Preston North Ends' 3-2 victory over Coventry City.
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