1. Kevin Doyle

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KEVIN DOYLE’S WOES have continued this season.

The striker has gone on loan to Premier League side Crystal Palace, but has failed to make an impression so far for the Eagles.

The Ireland striker last year also had an unsuccessful loan spell with QPR, while Kenny Jackett, manager of Doyle’s parent club Wolves, recently indicated he was open to taking the 31-year-old back into their team.

However, a return to the Championship would clearly be a step back for Doyle, who may be better off starting completely afresh should his Palace loan fail, particularly given Wolves’ previous thinly veiled reluctance to have him on the club’s books last summer.

2. Rob Elliot

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Ireland goalkeeper Rob Elliot’s stint at Newcastle seems somehow destined not to work out.

After Tim Krul picked up an injury, the number two finally had a chance to impress, only to get injured himself.

Martin O’Neill has continued to pick Elliot in squads despite his lack of playing time, but surely he needs to start competing week in week out at the age of 28.

He may have to join fellow Irish goalkeepers David Forde, Keiren Westwood and Darren Randolph in the Championship, but it would surely be worth it in order to guarantee some much-needed regular first-team football.

3. Paul McShane

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After publicly falling out with Steve Bruce, it seems to be a matter of when not if Paul McShane leaves Hull.

The Wicklow native has not played for the club since early November and didn’t help his cause by appearing to tweet implied criticism of the club the other week.

McShane leaving the Tigers may ultimately work out best for all concerned though, even if the 28-year-old has to move down a division in search of regular first-team football.

4. Robbie Keane

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The easy option for Robbie Keane would probably be to stay in LA and consolidate his status as a Galaxy legend.

However, the 34-year-old has achieved virtually all he can in America and recently hinted he may consider options elsewhere, though he also subsequently indicated he’s happy to stay

Nevertheless, not short of ambition, Ireland’s record goalscorer may be tempted by one last shot in Europe pending an attractive offer, and surely there’d be at least one or two Premier League clubs willing to take a gamble on a player who has shown few signs of losing his goalscoring touch of late — even if a loan spell is all they’re willing to offer.

5. Stephen Quinn

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Of all Hull’s games this season, Quinn has started just eight times. While his Irish colleague Robbie Brady has found regular game time hard to come by too, unlike the 22-year-old ex-Man United youngster, Quinn at 28 hardly has time on his side.

In order to justify his continued selection in the Ireland side, Quinn surely needs to be getting picked regularly. Steve Bruce has shown a consistent lack of faith in the Dubliner, with Tom Huddlestone, Jake Livermore and David Meyler all ostensibly ahead of him in the pecking order.

Therefore, perhaps it’s time for the former Pat’s player to seek a move elsewhere.

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