TWO YEARS HAVE already passed since Robbie Brady burst onto the international stage.
Back in September 2012, the 20-year-old winger had yet to appear for Manchester United’s first team when he earned man-of-the-match on his senior Ireland debut — scoring one and creating another in a 4-1 friendly win over Oman at Craven Cottage.
The Dubliner was a late substitute for United in the Capital One Cup weeks later but it would be his first and last game under Alex Ferguson as a move to Hull City, initially on loan but made permanent in January 2013, soon followed.
With eight Ireland caps now under his belt, Brady has this week been helping a new team-mate settle in. Having arrived at Hull from Cork City just six weeks ago, 20-year-old defender Brian Lenihan received a late call-up to on Tuesday evening and trained with the squad for the first time out in Malahide the next day.
“He (Lenihan) has been working his socks off since he got to Hull and has been training longer and harder than most,” Brady told TheScore yesterday. “I’m absolutely made up for him. He trained well this morning so I’m made up for him and hopefully he can get some playing time in the next few games.
“His life has changed so much in the last six months. It’s unbelievable. I was talking to him and he says it feels like his whole world just took a turn. He deserves it because he is a great lad and he’s working hard.
“I remember how hard it was when I first moved away. He is a little bit older than I was but it’s still the same in that it’s all new so me and the lads are just making him feel as comfortable as we can.”
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Lenihan training with the squad. Steve Langan / Inpho
Steve Langan / Inpho / Inpho
After enduring a season plagued by injury, Brady went into the current campaign hoping to re-establish himself in the Tigers’ starting line-up. Disappointingly, he has only managed a return of three Premier League appearances (all from the bench) in the opening two months.
Steve Bruce’s 11 summer signings, including four on deadline day, have made competition for places even tougher but Brady is intent on grabbing whatever chances come his way.
“The tempo has definitely gone up in training with everyone fighting for positions so I don’t think anyone can feel too comfortable when you’ve two or three people who can play in every position,” he says.
“It’s harder for the manager to pick (his team) and it’s not helping that all the lads who aren’t playing are working hard. Depending on results we will have to just wait for a chance to get back in.
You’ve got to make an impact every chance that you get. It has been tough but I got a couple of goals so it’s good to keep your name around when you do get the chance.
“Obviously I would like to be playing a little bit more and hopefully in the next couple of weeks that will come.
“The more I play in the next few weeks the more the goals will come.”
Brady scoring against West Brom in the Capital One Cup two weeks ago. Nigel French
Nigel French
One player Brady was sad to see depart the club during the last transfer window is Irish team-mate Shane Long, who signed by Southampton for €15m just eight months into his Hull career.
“It was great for us to sign him then I couldn’t believe it when they said they had accepted a bid. He’s a good mate of mine and of a lot of the lads who are there so it was disappointing to see him go.
“But it was a great move for himself and one that wasn’t to be turned down so fair play to him and I wish him the best.”
Long may have left but the arrival of Lenihan means Hull’s Irish contingent remains five-strong with David Meyler, Paul McShane and Stephen Quinn also on the books. All but McShane are Martin O’Neill’s squad for the visit of minnows Gibraltar on Saturday (5pm kick-off).
Taking part in their first qualifying campaign, the lowest ranked team in UEFA possess just one professional player and were hammered 7-0 by Poland last month.
Ireland will be expected to win and win well at the Aviva Stadium this weekend but Brady suggests they could prove more difficult than many are predicting.
“These games are never easy. Poland beat them by a fair whack and people will be expecting us to do the same. But they are tricky. I think the manager said that he spoke to the Poland coach and he found it very hard to break them down. It just opened up at one stage but before that it was tough.
“Any team who get themselves set up will be tough but we’ll be going out to win the game so hopefully we can do that and have ourselves in good stead to get a result against Germany.”
The FAI is running a fantastic competition this week for two tickets to Saturday’s game against Gibraltar and a signed Ireland shirt.
Tell us your tales of epic journeys to watch Ireland play and the best story wins the prize! Visit their Facebook page and tweet with the hashtag #MakeTheMatch
Brady taking Ireland new boy Lenihan under his wing with club and country
TWO YEARS HAVE already passed since Robbie Brady burst onto the international stage.
Back in September 2012, the 20-year-old winger had yet to appear for Manchester United’s first team when he earned man-of-the-match on his senior Ireland debut — scoring one and creating another in a 4-1 friendly win over Oman at Craven Cottage.
The Dubliner was a late substitute for United in the Capital One Cup weeks later but it would be his first and last game under Alex Ferguson as a move to Hull City, initially on loan but made permanent in January 2013, soon followed.
With eight Ireland caps now under his belt, Brady has this week been helping a new team-mate settle in. Having arrived at Hull from Cork City just six weeks ago, 20-year-old defender Brian Lenihan received a late call-up to on Tuesday evening and trained with the squad for the first time out in Malahide the next day.
“He (Lenihan) has been working his socks off since he got to Hull and has been training longer and harder than most,” Brady told TheScore yesterday. “I’m absolutely made up for him. He trained well this morning so I’m made up for him and hopefully he can get some playing time in the next few games.
“His life has changed so much in the last six months. It’s unbelievable. I was talking to him and he says it feels like his whole world just took a turn. He deserves it because he is a great lad and he’s working hard.
“I remember how hard it was when I first moved away. He is a little bit older than I was but it’s still the same in that it’s all new so me and the lads are just making him feel as comfortable as we can.”
After enduring a season plagued by injury, Brady went into the current campaign hoping to re-establish himself in the Tigers’ starting line-up. Disappointingly, he has only managed a return of three Premier League appearances (all from the bench) in the opening two months.
Steve Bruce’s 11 summer signings, including four on deadline day, have made competition for places even tougher but Brady is intent on grabbing whatever chances come his way.
“The tempo has definitely gone up in training with everyone fighting for positions so I don’t think anyone can feel too comfortable when you’ve two or three people who can play in every position,” he says.
“It’s harder for the manager to pick (his team) and it’s not helping that all the lads who aren’t playing are working hard. Depending on results we will have to just wait for a chance to get back in.
“Obviously I would like to be playing a little bit more and hopefully in the next couple of weeks that will come.
“The more I play in the next few weeks the more the goals will come.”
One player Brady was sad to see depart the club during the last transfer window is Irish team-mate Shane Long, who signed by Southampton for €15m just eight months into his Hull career.
“It was great for us to sign him then I couldn’t believe it when they said they had accepted a bid. He’s a good mate of mine and of a lot of the lads who are there so it was disappointing to see him go.
“But it was a great move for himself and one that wasn’t to be turned down so fair play to him and I wish him the best.”
Long may have left but the arrival of Lenihan means Hull’s Irish contingent remains five-strong with David Meyler, Paul McShane and Stephen Quinn also on the books. All but McShane are Martin O’Neill’s squad for the visit of minnows Gibraltar on Saturday (5pm kick-off).
Taking part in their first qualifying campaign, the lowest ranked team in UEFA possess just one professional player and were hammered 7-0 by Poland last month.
Ireland will be expected to win and win well at the Aviva Stadium this weekend but Brady suggests they could prove more difficult than many are predicting.
“These games are never easy. Poland beat them by a fair whack and people will be expecting us to do the same. But they are tricky. I think the manager said that he spoke to the Poland coach and he found it very hard to break them down. It just opened up at one stage but before that it was tough.
“Any team who get themselves set up will be tough but we’ll be going out to win the game so hopefully we can do that and have ourselves in good stead to get a result against Germany.”
The FAI is running a fantastic competition this week for two tickets to Saturday’s game against Gibraltar and a signed Ireland shirt.
Tell us your tales of epic journeys to watch Ireland play and the best story wins the prize! Visit their Facebook page and tweet with the hashtag #MakeTheMatch
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