Niall Keown looks to heed dad Martin’s advice

Plotting a route through the professional ranks in the shadow of his famous father has never been a chore for the newest Ireland U21 recruit, Niall Keown.

Dad Martin was also a centre-back, a star at Arsenal, but opted to represent England. Today, the Reading prospect will earn his second cap in the space of just five days when he lines out against Slovenia in Koper (kick-off 5pm Irish time).

It’s the second part of a qualification double-header, and he’ll be thinking of his father’s advice throughout, just like in Thursday’s debut against Italy, when his parents sat in the stand of the Waterford RSC proudly watching on.