‘High hopes for’ - International boss Michael O’Neill explains decision to call-up Portsmouth winger Eoin Kenny
Eoin Kenny is currently away with Michael O’Neill’s senior Northern Ireland international squad for their Nations League games against Ukraine and Hungary
Michael O’Neill has ‘high hopes’ for Eoin Kenny.
The Northern Ireland boss said the Pompey winger has a lot of potential, hence his maiden senior international call-up for upcoming games against Ukraine and Hungary.
He also believes the 20-year-old can offer his exciting young side something different after making a big impression in Tommy Wright’s under-21 set-up in recent years.
Kenny has featured twice for the Blues since his move to Fratton Park from League of Ireland Dundalk in the summer, including the opening game of the season at West Ham.
Last week Pompey boss John Mousinho said the Derry-born ace was closing in on more regular first-team involvement as he emphasised his importance to his Blues plans.
Now O’Neill has outlined why he felt the youngster deserved his chance to impress on the senior international stage despite his current crop of players sitting unbeaten at the top of Nations League Group F.
‘Might just give us something a little bit different’
‘He’s a young player that we've had in the under-21s, O’Neill told UTV.
‘He had a good campaign with Tommy Wright, and obviously had a cross channel move in the summer from Dundalk to Portsmouth where he's been around the first team.
‘He's been on the bench, he's had some minutes off the bench and I just wanted to bring a young player in that we have high hopes for.
‘He can take that next step. and (I wanted to) get the chance to work with him.
‘Obviously, the next time we'll be together is March, and we thought it was a good opportunity to bring Eoin in.
‘We've seen him (at Pompey), but I went to the under-21s game against Greece after we played Georgia here last month.
‘I thought it was a tough game. Greece were a good side at that level, and I thought he showed up well.
‘He's mobile, he's got good physique, he's strong. He might just give us something a little bit different in the attacking areas of the pitch.’
‘He's here because he wants to be here’
Kenny’s involvement with the senior Northern Ireland set-up has raised eyebrows across the Irish Sea given that his dad, Stephen, is a former manager of the Republic of Ireland.
O’Neill is happy to brush that aside, though.
He told the BBC: 'The background is not really that important for me, if I'm honest. I just look at the lad as a player.
‘He's really enjoyed being in the Northern Ireland set-up and, I think off the back of a really strong under-21s campaign, he deserves the opportunity to be in the squad.
‘I would envisage that he's here because he wants to be here. The most important thing is that he has the chance to play international football.’
Northern Ireland play host to Ukraine at Windsor Park on Saturday, before they travel to Hungary on Tuesday.
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