A FIRST INTERNATIONAL goal would be the perfect start to Conor Sammon’s big week.
The Derby County striker put his playoff pain behind him and flew in to join Ireland’s end-of-season tour earlier this week.
He wants to knuckle down and impress Martin O’Neill — but he’s on a tight schedule.
He gets married next weekend, ruling him out of the US games against Costa Rica and Portugal.
That leaves Saturday’s friendly against Italy in London as the only opportunity to win his 10th cap and hopefully break his international duck.
But after an indifferent season at club level, he feels he needs to catch the manager’s eye in training if he is to earn that chance.
O’Neill and assistant Roy Keane kept close tabs on Derby this year, visiting Pride Park as Sammon, Richard Keogh and Jeff Hendrick pushed the Rams to the brink of the Premier League.
Unfortunately for Sammon, the bulk of his 42 appearances came from the bench.
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“I haven’t played enough games for my club to show the manager [what I can do] any time he has come to watch us,” he said.
It’s a great opportunity for me to come here and train this week and try to stake a claim and show the manager what I can do.
“Hopefully I’ll get some opportunity against Italy.”
Sammon tested himself against world champions Spain in New York last summer. He'll miss this year's American tour to get married. Donall Farmer / INPHO
Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO
Sammon was an unused sub in Wembley last Saturday, a game that ended in heartbreak when Keogh scuffed his clearance straight to Bobby Zamora who fired a 90th-minute winner for 10-man QPR.
International duty has helped to take his mind off the disappointment, he admits.
“If you’re at home or away on holidays, you are constantly thinking about what might have been, what could have been, the small details.
To come here and get a chance to link up with the squad, it totally changes your focus away from the disappointment and on to the excitement of trying to impress the management staff here.
Sammon was one of the first to console a tearful Keogh after the final whistle and he revealed his words of support for his team-mate.
“I just said to him get your head up, you can be proud of the way you’ve led us all season.
“Naturally enough he’s going to take it quite personally. He feels he has let the lads down but if it wasn’t for him and the season he had, we might not have been in that position at Wembley.
Sammon was one of the first to console a devastated Keogh at Wembley. PA Wire / Press Association Images
PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
“I think once you reflect back on the season we have had, there are so many positives to take, and his season from an individual point of view has been fantastic as well.
He can be really proud of what he’s achieved this season.
Sammon also paid tribute to manager Steve McClaren who took over a Derby side faltering in midtable when Nigel Clough was sacked, and almost guided them back to the top flight at the first time of asking.
“I’ve learned a lot since he came in, from his attention to detail and the coaching staff he has around him.
“Everyone going out onto the pitch as a player knows exactly what their role and their job is, the way he likes to play.
McClaren has mainly used Sammon as a sub, but the manager has still had a strong influence on him. PA Archive / Press Association Images
PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
“He has a lot of speakers coming in to us as well from the mental side of it which is quite big in football. Not many people realise quite how big it is to be quite positive and look at the positives, whereas most people look at the small negative things they’ve done.
“It has been an incredible turnaround from when he came in. I think we were in midtable, and to go on the run we did is a credit to himself and the coaching staff.
“On a personal level I’ve learned a lot from him as well.”
Wedding bells for Sammon - but first he wants to reel in Martin O'Neill
A FIRST INTERNATIONAL goal would be the perfect start to Conor Sammon’s big week.
The Derby County striker put his playoff pain behind him and flew in to join Ireland’s end-of-season tour earlier this week.
He wants to knuckle down and impress Martin O’Neill — but he’s on a tight schedule.
He gets married next weekend, ruling him out of the US games against Costa Rica and Portugal.
That leaves Saturday’s friendly against Italy in London as the only opportunity to win his 10th cap and hopefully break his international duck.
But after an indifferent season at club level, he feels he needs to catch the manager’s eye in training if he is to earn that chance.
O’Neill and assistant Roy Keane kept close tabs on Derby this year, visiting Pride Park as Sammon, Richard Keogh and Jeff Hendrick pushed the Rams to the brink of the Premier League.
Unfortunately for Sammon, the bulk of his 42 appearances came from the bench.
“I haven’t played enough games for my club to show the manager [what I can do] any time he has come to watch us,” he said.
“Hopefully I’ll get some opportunity against Italy.”
Sammon was an unused sub in Wembley last Saturday, a game that ended in heartbreak when Keogh scuffed his clearance straight to Bobby Zamora who fired a 90th-minute winner for 10-man QPR.
International duty has helped to take his mind off the disappointment, he admits.
“If you’re at home or away on holidays, you are constantly thinking about what might have been, what could have been, the small details.
Sammon was one of the first to console a tearful Keogh after the final whistle and he revealed his words of support for his team-mate.
“I just said to him get your head up, you can be proud of the way you’ve led us all season.
“Naturally enough he’s going to take it quite personally. He feels he has let the lads down but if it wasn’t for him and the season he had, we might not have been in that position at Wembley.
“I think once you reflect back on the season we have had, there are so many positives to take, and his season from an individual point of view has been fantastic as well.
Sammon also paid tribute to manager Steve McClaren who took over a Derby side faltering in midtable when Nigel Clough was sacked, and almost guided them back to the top flight at the first time of asking.
“I’ve learned a lot since he came in, from his attention to detail and the coaching staff he has around him.
“Everyone going out onto the pitch as a player knows exactly what their role and their job is, the way he likes to play.
“He has a lot of speakers coming in to us as well from the mental side of it which is quite big in football. Not many people realise quite how big it is to be quite positive and look at the positives, whereas most people look at the small negative things they’ve done.
“It has been an incredible turnaround from when he came in. I think we were in midtable, and to go on the run we did is a credit to himself and the coaching staff.
“On a personal level I’ve learned a lot from him as well.”
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Conor Sammon COYBIG Martin O'Neill Sammon of College Ireland Republic Italy