Updated at 21.29
IT’S BEEN A Christmas to remember for Irish midfielder Alan Judge, as he was named on Brentford’s bench for this evening’s Championship clash with Aston Villa, 20 months after suffering a broken leg.
Judge was having a superb time in the 2015-16 campaign, earning a Championship player of the year nomination, before the setback ended his season prematurely.
The injury, suffered on 9 April 2016, also put paid to the Dubliner’s hopes of making Ireland’s Euro 2016 squad, after he had made his international debut just a couple of weeks previously in a friendly against Switzerland.
After an extensive recuperation period, Judge featured for the Brentford B team earlier this month and has now been given the green light to challenge for a place in the first team again.
Ultimately, Judge’s services were not required from the bench on this occasion, as Brentford earned a 2-1 win at Griffin Park.
Irish international Glenn Whelan and Boys in Green squad member Scott Hogan both started the game for the visitors, while Cork native Conor Hourihane was an unused sub.
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Bernard Brogan and Karl Lacey have NOTHING to prove to anyone ffs! 2 of the best footballers to ever put on a pair of boots.
What a strange thing to say!
Part of Brogan’s problem is that he seems to play an extremely unselfish role by staying close to the endline all game long. It occupies defenders and frees up space for other forwards but it means that he operates with a very limited amount of space – trapped between a defender and the endline. It’s frustrating to watch and must be frustrating for him but if it’s to the benefit of the team, can hardly complain.
Paul Flynn is a man that really needs to show form. Don’t see how his place can be justified after his anonymity last year.
the two dubs have nothing to prove to anyone proven winners with the greatest team to ever to have played the game .