THE SUMMER OF 2016 felt like a footballing coming of age for Jeff Hendrick.
Previously regarded as a promising youngster, the midfielder was, in most critics’ eyes, Ireland’s standout performer at Euro 2016, excelling in particular during the draw with Sweden and the famous win over Italy.
As the Dubliner thrived against some of the best players in Europe, the accolades followed.
Former Ireland assistant boss Marco Tardelli recalled a young Hendrick and the promise he saw in the player.
“We picked him up at Derby County, in the Championship,” the World Cup winner said. “I was there to see a central defender, but I was struck by him.
He’s what you’d call a player of the past, but the truth is a bit different. He is modern in ways that aren’t immediately perceived, but they emerge when you really need them. I offered him to some Italian teams, but maybe he wasn’t expensive enough.”
After the Italy win, meanwhile, Robbie Keane remarked of Hendrick: “I told Tottenham to buy him four years ago and they wouldn’t listen!”
On the back of the Euro 2016 displays, Hendrick didn’t get a move to Spurs, but he was signed by Burnley the following August for a club record £10.5 million fee on a three-year deal.
Yet the manner in which the optimism regarding Hendrick has dwindled since then is mirrored in how Ireland as a team have failed to build on a hugely promising Euros more than two years on.
He did help the Clarets finish seventh last season, so it is not as if the Dubliner has been hugely disappointing, though there remains the nagging feeling that the 26-year-old is capable of playing much better, particularly at international level.
It doesn’t help that Hendrick has been in and out of the Burnley team this season, while he was not a guaranteed starter last year either.
The former St Kevin’s Boys youngster has been played almost as a number 10 or advanced midfielder at club level for the most part, rather than the deeper role he invariably occupies for Ireland.
Speaking at the press conference on Friday, Ireland boss Martin O’Neill said that it was time to “move on” from the Euros, yet the 66-year-old coach struggled to heed his own advice. He referenced Hendrick’s performances in France that summer no less than five times over the course of the 28-minute press conference. While claiming that the Dubliner’s displays since then have not been as bad as his detractors claim, the former Celtic boss acknowledged that he was expecting more from the player.
“He was absolutely outstanding in the Euros, I think he can get back to there, he has to do,” O’Neill said. “You have to sometimes reassess your game and he has the capabilities and the natural talent to do that. Jeff Hendrick, in proper form, is a big player for us.
“His performances in recent times have not been up to the standard he attained in the Euros.
“I just think we have to take one thing into consideration: he was part of a side that actually did go up until the two matches [against Denmark and Wales], went 11 games with one defeat, and we never lost in a game away from home.
“We went to some difficult places — in fact he scored a goal out in Serbia — so he had reached a very high performance level in the Euros, and so the expectation on himself and Robbie Brady and the likes of Seamus Coleman did become very high.
“It became high with all of us, and I think it became high with himself as well. Sometimes whatever you do, maybe you don’t reach that sort of level, but that was very high.
“He was terrific against Sweden — that particular day, I thought he was man of the match against a side which ended up doing not too badly again in the World Cup.
“I just think you have to give him a little bit of slack here. He’s done exceptionally well. There are some games where he didn’t do so well, but the very fact is that we’re judging him now on the performances that he made out in France.”
Hendrick revealed yesterday that assistant boss Roy Keane had a sit-down chat with him to go over his disappointing performance in last month’s comprehensive 4-1 loss to Wales, suggesting these words of advice helped him deliver an improved display in the subsequent encounter with Poland.
Asked himself how he can improve and show more leadership, Hendrick bluntly replied: “I have to play better.”
When pressed on his struggles to recapture his Euro 2016 form, the player added: “I’m summarising 20-odd caps here. Each game is different, really. I have played in a few different positions, we have played some really hard opposition. I think I’ve done well in some games; other games, I’ve not done well.
“At the end of the day, I expect a lot from myself as well going into games and I haven’t been happy with a lot of my performances, so I’m trying to put that right.”
O’Neill confirmed that Hendrick would start tonight’s Nations League clash with Denmark at the Aviva Stadium, but was unwilling to say whether Cardiff’s Harry Arter would join him in midfield.
The 28-year-old pulled out of Ireland’s last squad following a row with Keane, and O’Neill agreed with the suggestion that Arter has a point to prove.
“Harry is starting for Cardiff, though it’s obviously not been great, he could do better. He is starting matches, but if he gets the opportunity, I think he’s ready for it now. He’s put [the Keane controversy] behind him. I think we all have. He’s come back into the squad, and I think the way he’s come back into the squad is to prove a point, which he should be [wanting to do].”
Subscribe to our new podcast, Heineken Rugby Weekly on The42, here:
Very lazy choice for coach of the year Hansens a good coach but Schmidt was magnificent
Ya your dead right! Never mind the blacks breaking the world record of any team for consecutive wins throw in southern nations championship win and where they are now…. Very lazy choice!
Subjective awards are meaningless anyway.
@phillipryan did the AB not just equal the record cause they drew 12-12 with oz when they lookin to break it?
Don’t loose too much sleep he was never going to get it
If he goes though the 6 nations and the world cup the way he has gone through the last 3 games he’ll get it next year .
Should do! His all round performances have been superb and and his place kicking has improved quite a lot. If he keeps this form coming into the six nations and world cup then he is surely in with a shout.
Fancy that. A man from New Zealand named player of the year. A Cinderella story, if ever there was one.
Nothing worth getting upset over.
If sexton was from the south he would of won. Irb prefer to award anyone who plays down south
He wouldn’t have been my winner! Savea or Le Roux would have gotten it off me
Never heard of him
John if you’ve never heard of Retallick you obviously don’t know or watch the fantastic game that is Rugby Union. Well deserved. Maybe watch a game or two and you might be qualified to comment then champ.
It may be a long shot, but if Murray keeps up his form, I’d stick a few quid on him for next year.
If an ape coached NZ they’d still win, and the ape would get coach of the year. Although that’s more or less what’s currently happening. They’re about to be toppled in the next year, far to many close games and a shambles at fly half to maintain their supremacy going forward.
No disrespect to apes meant by the way, I just don’t think they’re coaching material. Although I’m sure they’d make a monkey out of me.
Apparently Joe isn’t even the radar in New Zealand….. Maybe we should be thankful the sign him up to a 10 year contract.
Shame on them if they’re not considering him!
I’m not being bitter but I find it very hard that southern and northern players are put in same category cus lets be honest they hardly play each other and its very mindset in both spheres probably fair if they spit them (exulting Rwc years)
Wouldn’t say bod would have been overly impressed if he did get it!
Hard luck Johnny