THERE WERE A couple of new faces in Martin O’Neill’s Ireland squad for upcoming friendlies against Slovakia and Switzerland announced on Friday.
Four uncapped players featured — Peterborough’s Chris Forrester, Brentford midfielder Alan Judge, Wolves full-back Matt Doherty and Jonny Hayes of Aberdeen.
Advertisement
And of that quartet, Hayes is probably the least well-known player selected. Consequently, we’ve taken a look at his background, as he bids to stake a claim for an unlikely Euro 2016 place…
- Hayes is a 28-year-old Dublin-born winger.
- He has made over 100 appearances for Aberdeen since joining in 2012 and he is currently an important part of their unlikely bid for the Scottish Premiership title — they currently trail Celtic by one point, though the reigning champions have a game in hand.
- This season, Hayes has five goals in 34 appearances in all competitions for the Scottish side, starting 27 of their 30 league games so far.
- He is a product of Reading’s youth academy, but never played a first-team game for the Royals, going on loan spells to Forest Green Rovers and Milton Keynes Dons during his time there.
- After failing to break into the Reading first team, he joined Leicester on a free transfer in 2007. However, he was released by the Foxes just two years later, after making just seven first-team appearances. During that time, he also had loan spells at Northampton Town and Cheltenham Town.
- After being released by Leicester, Hayes joined Inverness Caledonian Thistle following a successful trial. It was during this period that he linked up with Adam Rooney — another future Aberdeen star who would also be called up by Ireland. He finally began to enjoy a sustained run of first-team action, after joining the Scottish First Division side, and helped them gain promotion to the Scottish Premier League during his first season there, scoring 10 goals in 35 league appearances.
- Following three successful seasons at Inverness, Hayes joined Aberdeen in 2009, and he has been a first-team regular with the Dons ever since. He started the final for the Aberdeen team that won the League Cup in 2014, but had to go off early after picking up a shoulder injury.
- Thanks to his impressive form, he signed a new contract for Aberdeen in December 2014, and is currently contracted to the club until 2018.
- He was the winner of Scotland’s 2013-14 goal of the season for this stunning strike against Celtic…
- And it’s not the only spectacular effort he’s managed against Celtic. Here’s the goal he scored in the Dons’ 2-1 win over their title rivals last month…
- Hayes has also been named SPL Player of the Month twice — on November 2009 and April 2010.
- Although Friday was his first-ever call-up to the senior squad, he has been capped three times for Ireland at U21 level.
- After making the latest Ireland squad, his manager at club level Derek McInnes told the Scottish Daily Record: “I’m delighted for Jonny, it’s well deserved. It’s a great chance for him because they have a massive summer coming up with the Euros. Jonny has shown great consistency over the last few seasons. When he’s hot he has been very hot and he’s a matchwinner. He knocks his pan in for the team and is a real team player. He has the ability to play with great intensity for 90 minutes and the Irish coaching staff have obviously been impressed.”
- He is one of three Irish players currently in the Aberdeen first-team squad – Adam Rooney and Willo Flood are the other two.
- He suffered a bizarre injury last month, after being bitten by a dog, which led to him becoming embroiled in a Twitter argument.
- Speaking about Aberdeen’s current title bid, he recently told reporters: “Pressure is when you are down at the bottom of the league and struggling to keep your job. People at the stadium might lose their jobs if the club is relegated. When other people rely on you, that is pressure. We are at the top end of the table and winning more games than not. Any player that buckles under pressure shouldn’t be playing football. It is a challenge that we relish. The players are thoroughly enjoying it and we are looking forward to the rest of the season.”
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
Gamesmanship if he was English of course!
@Shane McGettrick: he is English.
A foul for shouting “leave it”??? Jesus christ. Chaboloah should know his surroundings and his position, he should know well that there wasn’t another Watford player behind him – at least not one in a better scoring position. He should’ve taken his chance rather then been bossed out of his shot. Artur should give him his jersey to wipe up his tears.
@Cillian McCormick: It’s one of those “I can’t believe this is actually a rule” that sometimes pop up in sport
@Brian Dunleavy: it’s not to anyone who plays the game at any level. Lads get pulled up for shouting my ball or leave it all the time. That’s why you need to call a name when challenging for a ball
@Cillian McCormick: speech play it was called in our neck of the woods back in the day
It was class
@Philip foster: thought so too,hilarious.
He is English
@Mark Collins: ape.
@David: you think he’s not English?
@David: born in England, to English-born parents. Has lived in England all his life. Do you really not think that he’s not at least even a little bit English?
The crowd should shout leave it
@John O Reilly: Nice one
If it happened in a game of 5 a side you’d be fit to give him a slap. A real d**khead move.
@Chicken George: Just being clever. Do you slap all people who are smarter than you? I’d say your hand is sore.
@Chicken George: ah lad
That was a funny thing
Ya can’t go mad over that.
He didn’t call him a —– or anything
Seriously thought
Would most of you go mad if this happened you in an indoor game ?
@Pj:
Why
Do
Dis
@Camroc: clever? Any idiot can do that. Maybe it’s clever for someone with your basic intellect?
@Liam: I didn’t
Way it came off the phone ya gimp
This is unsportsmanlike, so what is diving or going down if a player is next to you in the box? How often do they call that out?
The player should only leave it if he hears a teammate put their name on the ball. Otherwise, play on.
It’s a professional foul but one that happens all the time.
“presumably telling him to ‘leave it’”
Nobody playing after the u-12 soccer grade says ‘leave it’.
Brilliant
He voted Tory. He is English
Rules of the playground.”leave it” is not on but “miss it” is acceptable if not encouraged