IT HELPED HIM to bag his first senior international call up — now Jeff Hendrick wants to rediscover his golden touch.
The Derby County midfielder didn’t know Giovanni Trapattoni was in the crowd but he seized his opportunity to impress when he scored against Brighton and Hove Albion last month.
The goal was Hendrick’s third in as many games since the turn of the year. Though he drew a blank a week later against Nottingham Forest, his performance caught Trap’s eye again and the young Dubliner was one of three Rams players included in the Ireland squad for tomorrow night’s friendly against Poland.
Defender Richard Keogh and Conor Sammon, Hendrick’s roommate this week, also got the nod on the back of their club form. Hendrick says it’s nice to have some familiar faces around as he finds his feet in camp.
It sort of helps you settle in a little bit. Obviously the lads are good to you and welcome you but it’s good to have [Keogh and Sammon] to travel in. You’re not on your own.
Although he has been an important part of Noel King’s U21 squad, the senior call up took him by surprise, Hendrick admits.
“I didn’t even know [Trapattoni] was coming. I only found out after the game that he was there.
I thought I played alright. My form has been alright in the last two months. I’m really happy with the way it’s going and I’m just trying to get better with every game.
He added: “I’d be delighted to get any game time. I’m over the moon already just to be in the squad but to get on the pitch, even for a second, that would be incredible.
His goal glut in early January took him to five for the season, and although he hasn’t scored in his last three starts, Hendrick hopes there’s more to come.
“It’s been dry the last two or three games so I’m trying to get back on the scoresheet. Hopefully I can — I want to hit double figures for the season.”
Seems to be fairly grounded. Best of luck to him!
Wow. That closing piece of advice is powerful for a 16 year old. I like him already.
Not going to be popular but gaa is the main reason Ireland isn’t producing more professional sports people. Nothing against gaa but young kids are playing a sport they can’t make a living from when they may make a career from another sport with the same input.
@Harry Trafford: that is of no fault of the GAA to be fair. It’s up to the FAI to attract these young players to their product…every country faces the same issue, sports competing with other sports to attract young participants. Ireland is no different.
@Harry Trafford: not everything is about money. For some playing gaa and having a good job etc is enough for them. They play the sport and can obtain legendary local status. For others it’s about chasing huge wads of cash in a more commercial industry overseas with huge failure rates. Retire & play golf & grow a beer belly. Different folks, different strokes. As long as you’re happy. That’s the main thing.
@Ottomaaan: I agree the FAI need to pull the finger out. Ireland have some of the best sports people in the world right across the board. Just the article mentions a career in GAA but it’s an amature sport, all be it played with a professional attitude.
@Ronan McDermott: a career in sport isn’t all about money, not everyone makes massive wads of cash only the very small majority. I’m not referring to just becoming a footballer. You can make a decent wage in most sports at a professional level.
@Harry Trafford: I hear you. Not disagreeing with you as such. Lots of sports have salary caps etc. By being involved with gaa you could have a very good job arranged with a sponsor etc. So technically you’d still be making money with a company that’ll work around your schedule.
@Ronan McDermott: very small minded, being a top footballer against the billions that play or the the top hurler against the 100s that play
@tubbsyf: I’m not small minded at all. Different folks, different strokes is all I said.
“Stay committed to doing it. Don’t go over there and think you’ve made it. You’re only playing 18s football. You haven’t made it anywhere yet, so keep your head down and keep working away.” Sounds like Roy Keane got to him.
I think this is a story the GAA need to be cery cognisant of. The way the competitions are set up now you only have a few counties who are ever likely to win anything with back doors, super 8′s etc making it almost impossible for one of the “smaller” teams like wicklow to hold onto or encourage their best players to stick with the support. The constant push for revenue generated by the biggest counties making finals is seeing the players from the top counties putting in even more effort in the knowledge they might win something while concurrently you have teams from weaker counties who are saying upwards of 40 players are refusing to come into their County set ups.
@Dino Baggio: This is vividly highlighted in Munster where they seed the draw to have Cork and Kerry in the football final every year even though Cork are at best the third best team in Munster and the likes of Limerick footballers are struggling to get players to commit. The drain of players to pro sports is going to get worse unless the Gaa address this issue.
Only just came across this article. Conor was with Mill Celtic from the age of 11 before joining Newbridge Town at 13. He was in the KDUL Academy from 11 and played inter league at u 12 and u 13. Not sure where the only playing soccer since 14 is coming from
Bully Beef?