O'Shea set to reward O'Brien with maiden Ireland call-up
A new squad in a new year under a new manager marks good news for Jake O’Brien with Lyon’s Cork-born defender set for a maiden Ireland call-up.
This will be John O’Shea’s one and only squad announcement – until the permanent managerial vacancy comes around in the future anyway – but he’s aware of O’Brien’s qualities from their time together with the U21s.
Bar a one-game suspension, the 22-year-old has been an ever-present in the French side since early October.
His 21 appearances and three goals are central to their rise from relegation contenders under ex-boss Laurent Blanc to tenth in Ligue 1 and a Coupe de France semi-final against Valenciennes.
He’s return to his club for that April 2 clash as a full international, having featured against one two nations that, unlike Ireland, are preparing European Championship finals participation in June.
For this Lansdowne Road double-header, Belgium are first up on March 23 - almost exactly two years since they last visited. The team won’t a second string like that occasion when Alan Browne’s late header earned a 2-2 draw. Switzerland follow three days later.
O’Shea was thrust into the caretaker role when the FAI’s pursuit of leading target Lee Carsley didn’t get over the line in time. He’s this week due to announce his England U21 squad for games over the same window and is certain to be asked whether he’s the man lined up by the FAI within their stated unveiling timetable of early next month.
In the meantime, the interim boss - likely to remain part of the incoming head coach’s staff - has been studiously surveying his options, spanning his gaze to O’Brien in France and Festy Ebosele operating in Serie A for Udinese.
Both will be named in a squad that could run to 24 players.
Read on irishexaminer.com
