Soccer: Irish eyes watching Essandoh

Wycombe's FA Cup hero Roy Essandoh will have to prove himself further to Sammy McIlroy before earning a Northern Ireland call-up.

Essandoh, who was born in Carryduff, has set his heart on playing for his homeland after he scored Wycombe's last-minute winner in their quarter-final success at Leicester.

Unlike virtually everyone else in Britain, including most of Essandoh's Wycombe team-mates, Irish manager McIlroy had heard of the striker before Saturday.

However McIlroy, who is finalising his squad for this month's World Cup double header against the Czech Republic and Bulgaria, feels Essandoh, who is only on a week-to-week contract at Wycombe, needs to be playing and scoring regularly before he can be considered.

"I was going to go to the game, but when I heard he was sub I didn't think it would be worthwhile," said McIlroy.

"He is one that we know about and we've got his CV and his history.

"Our Under-21 manager Roy Millar had told me all about him because I think he played for him at Under-18 level.

"Roy told me that he's a big, strong lad and he showed that against Leicester.

"He took his goal well, but really that was just one game.

"If he can get a permanent contract and is playing and scoring regularly, then of course we will consider him.

"I'll certainly be keeping an eye on him and he's one to look at."