MARTIN O’NEILL HAS declared his interest in Brentford striker Scott Hogan, but admits that he has “a number of options.”

The 24-year-old hit the headlines with his goalscoring form in the Championship this year with a tally of 13 in his last 15 league appearances for the Bees.

Salford-born Hogan, who returned from two serious ligament injuries at the back end of last season, is eligible to represent Ireland through the granny rule, and O’Neill recently met the player’s representative.

However, he wasn’t included in the 33-man squad to play Georgia and Moldova in next month’s World Cup qualifiers and the Ireland boss intimated that he has yet to make a decision.

“I have spoken to his agent and I think that he has a very open mind,” said O’Neill. “Remember he has been out for a long time too. He has just come back at the back end of last season. He also has a rehabilitation programme (scheduled during the international break).

“According to the agent, he was interested and he was delighted that we were showing an interest, and like everything else, he has a number of options.

But I have seen him a number of times now and he is an exceptionally-good goalscorer.

“He has the right to make his own decisions. Of course, he wasn’t born in this country and conversations have not got that far but this is one that a number of people, clubs and countries are monitoring.

Asked whether he was wary of getting involved in another Jack Grealish-esque saga, O’Neill responded:

“It is always up to the player and that was exactly the case with young Grealish.”

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