WITH THE FOOTBALL League in England starting this weekend, here are 12 Irish players to watch out for in League One this season.
Conor Wilkinson (Bolton)
Position: Forward
The 21-year-old striker is yet to hit his stride in his senior career, but seven loan spells away from his parent club Bolton, hasn’t helped his cause.
Standing at 6ft 3ins, the Ireland U21 international has the physical stature to make his presence felt in England’s third tier, as Bolton aim to bounce back to the Championship at the first attempt.
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Rory Gaffney (Bristol Rovers)
Position: Forward
The former Limerick striker left the League of Ireland in 2015 to join Cambridge United, but it was at Bristol Rovers, where the Galway man has really found his form.
The 26-year-old scored 10 goals in 30 league appearances last season, as the Pirates won promotion to League One.
Tim Ireland
Tim Ireland
Connor Dimaio (Chesterfield)
Position: Midfielder
Chesterfield-born Dimaio signed for his hometown club at the start of the year, after being released by Sheffield United, and was soon rewarded with an extended contract by the Spireites.
The 20-year-old is an Ireland underage international, and has the raw talent to make a significant impression this year.
Rui Vieira
Rui Vieira
Jay O’Shea (Chesterfield)
Position: Midfielder
The former Bray and Galway United winger struggled to make the breakthrough when he signed for then Premier League side Birmingham City.
After a couple of loan spells in the Football League, the 27-year-old moved to MK Dons, but it has been at Chesterfield where he has firmly established himself. The former Home Farm man scored nine goals in the division last season.
Richard Sellers
Richard Sellers
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Cian Bolger (Fleetwood Town)
Position: Defender
The 24-year-old from Celbridge came through Leicester City’s youth system, but failed to make an appearance for the Foxes.
He signed for the Cod Army on a free transfer this summer after leaving fellow League One side Southend and described his move as a sign of “intent” from the club.
EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
Bradley Garmston (Gillingham)
Position: Defender
The left-back came through West Brom’s academy, but didn’t make an appearance for the Baggies during his time at the club.
The 22-year-old is a modern full-back, and is just as capable attacking as he is defending his own goal.
EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
Emmanuel Osadebe (Gillingham)
Position: Midfielder
The Dundalk man is hoping to make further progress with Gillingham this season, after earning a new contract this summer.
The 19-year-old midfielder, who joined the League One club from Tottenham Hotspur’s foundation college programme, made 21 appearances last season, and his fine individual goal below against Bury was voted the club’s goal of the season.
The Millwall striker seems to have a bright future ahead of him, and will be looking to increase his growing reputation with the Lions this season.
The 22-year-old will however, be looking to improve on his goal ratio after he managed a solid, if not unspectacular, 13 goals from 53 appearances last season.
EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
John-Joe O’Toole (Northampton Town)
Position: Midfielder
The attack-minded midfielder was named in the League Two Team of the Year last season, after he scored 12 goals as Northampton clinched the League Two title.
The 27-year-old has spent the majority of his career in the lower leagues, but the London-born former Ireland U21 international will be an important player if the Cobblers are to cement their place in League One this season.
PA Wire / Press Association Images
PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Chris Forrester (Peterborough United)
Position: Midfielder
Much was expected of Forrrester when he made the decision to leave St Pat’s for Peterborough, and he hasn’t disappointed.
Now playing in a deep-lying midfield role, the former Bohemians midfielder has been compared to Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick, by former Posh manager Graham Westley after several impressive and commanding performances.
In the close season, the 23-year-old was offered a bumper new contract and was named the new club captain for the upcoming season, to entice the former Ireland U21 international to stay at London Road, despite offers from clubs higher up the football ladder.
PA Archive / Press Association Images
PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Paddy Madden (Scunthorpe United)
Position: Forward
The 26-year-old Dubliner has a single senior international cap to his name, but could add to that tally in the coming years.
The former Bohemians and Shelbourne striker scored 23 goals in 52 appearances last season, improving on his 17 goal tally from the previous season. An ambitious target of 30 goals should not be out of the question.
EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
Simon Cox (Southend United)
Position: Forward
The 29-year-old has been a regular in Ireland’s expanded squads over the past couple of years, and has gone on to win 30 caps since making his debut in 2011, but needs to reignite his career in the near future to add to that total.
Back in April, Cox scored his first goal since 2014, so it wasn’t a surprise to hear that Reading were not prepared to renew the former West Brom striker’s contract at the end of the season.
Cox managed the most prolific period of his career when he joined League One Swindon Town in 2007, scoring 43 goals in 81 appearances. There’s no reason why he can’t replicate that return this season at Southend.
EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
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Chris Forrester and 11 other Irish players that could shine in League One this season
WITH THE FOOTBALL League in England starting this weekend, here are 12 Irish players to watch out for in League One this season.
Conor Wilkinson (Bolton)
Position: Forward
The 21-year-old striker is yet to hit his stride in his senior career, but seven loan spells away from his parent club Bolton, hasn’t helped his cause.
Standing at 6ft 3ins, the Ireland U21 international has the physical stature to make his presence felt in England’s third tier, as Bolton aim to bounce back to the Championship at the first attempt.
Rory Gaffney (Bristol Rovers)
Position: Forward
The former Limerick striker left the League of Ireland in 2015 to join Cambridge United, but it was at Bristol Rovers, where the Galway man has really found his form.
The 26-year-old scored 10 goals in 30 league appearances last season, as the Pirates won promotion to League One.
Connor Dimaio (Chesterfield)
Position: Midfielder
Chesterfield-born Dimaio signed for his hometown club at the start of the year, after being released by Sheffield United, and was soon rewarded with an extended contract by the Spireites.
The 20-year-old is an Ireland underage international, and has the raw talent to make a significant impression this year.
Jay O’Shea (Chesterfield)
Position: Midfielder
The former Bray and Galway United winger struggled to make the breakthrough when he signed for then Premier League side Birmingham City.
After a couple of loan spells in the Football League, the 27-year-old moved to MK Dons, but it has been at Chesterfield where he has firmly established himself. The former Home Farm man scored nine goals in the division last season.
Cian Bolger (Fleetwood Town)
Position: Defender
The 24-year-old from Celbridge came through Leicester City’s youth system, but failed to make an appearance for the Foxes.
He signed for the Cod Army on a free transfer this summer after leaving fellow League One side Southend and described his move as a sign of “intent” from the club.
Bradley Garmston (Gillingham)
Position: Defender
The left-back came through West Brom’s academy, but didn’t make an appearance for the Baggies during his time at the club.
The 22-year-old is a modern full-back, and is just as capable attacking as he is defending his own goal.
Emmanuel Osadebe (Gillingham)
Position: Midfielder
The Dundalk man is hoping to make further progress with Gillingham this season, after earning a new contract this summer.
The 19-year-old midfielder, who joined the League One club from Tottenham Hotspur’s foundation college programme, made 21 appearances last season, and his fine individual goal below against Bury was voted the club’s goal of the season.
Aiden O’Brien (Millwall)
Position: Forward
The Millwall striker seems to have a bright future ahead of him, and will be looking to increase his growing reputation with the Lions this season.
The 22-year-old will however, be looking to improve on his goal ratio after he managed a solid, if not unspectacular, 13 goals from 53 appearances last season.
John-Joe O’Toole (Northampton Town)
Position: Midfielder
The attack-minded midfielder was named in the League Two Team of the Year last season, after he scored 12 goals as Northampton clinched the League Two title.
The 27-year-old has spent the majority of his career in the lower leagues, but the London-born former Ireland U21 international will be an important player if the Cobblers are to cement their place in League One this season.
Chris Forrester (Peterborough United)
Position: Midfielder
Much was expected of Forrrester when he made the decision to leave St Pat’s for Peterborough, and he hasn’t disappointed.
Now playing in a deep-lying midfield role, the former Bohemians midfielder has been compared to Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick, by former Posh manager Graham Westley after several impressive and commanding performances.
In the close season, the 23-year-old was offered a bumper new contract and was named the new club captain for the upcoming season, to entice the former Ireland U21 international to stay at London Road, despite offers from clubs higher up the football ladder.
Paddy Madden (Scunthorpe United)
Position: Forward
The 26-year-old Dubliner has a single senior international cap to his name, but could add to that tally in the coming years.
The former Bohemians and Shelbourne striker scored 23 goals in 52 appearances last season, improving on his 17 goal tally from the previous season. An ambitious target of 30 goals should not be out of the question.
Simon Cox (Southend United)
Position: Forward
The 29-year-old has been a regular in Ireland’s expanded squads over the past couple of years, and has gone on to win 30 caps since making his debut in 2011, but needs to reignite his career in the near future to add to that total.
Back in April, Cox scored his first goal since 2014, so it wasn’t a surprise to hear that Reading were not prepared to renew the former West Brom striker’s contract at the end of the season.
Cox managed the most prolific period of his career when he joined League One Swindon Town in 2007, scoring 43 goals in 81 appearances. There’s no reason why he can’t replicate that return this season at Southend.
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