Hendrick leading by example

IT WASN’T just the blonde hair that had Derby County fans comparing Ireland’s U19 regular Jeff Hendrick to Robbie Savage last season.

Hendrick is the only outfield player in the Ireland squad to have started all seven of Paul Doolin’s competitive matches to date, most recently the 2-1 victory over Greece in their Group A opener on Wednesday.

The teen admits the European Championships campaign in Romania, which continue against the Czech Republic today, is the perfect platform to convince Nigel Clough he’s ready to fill the midfield void vacated by the retired Savage. Four substitute appearances in Derby’s last Championship campaign, all as replacements for Savage, offered a glimpse of Hendrick’s qualities and Clough expects more involvement by the Dubliner this coming term.