Keith Andrews wary as Ireland resume pursuit of Scott Hogan

Martin O’Neill plans to follow up on his interest in Scott Hogan over the coming weeks.

O’Neill has already made an approach in a bid to secure the services of the dual-eligibility Brentford man and has previously reported that the player retained “an open mind” about declaring for the Republic of Ireland.

However, Hogan also indicated that he needed more time to come to a decision and wanted to concentrate first on progressing for his club after suffering a brace of serious injuries last season.

“We’ve certainly got the opportunity now, coming up to Christmas and slightly after,” said O’Neill about the prospect of resuming contact with the highly-rated striker.

“The agent did say he’d want to have a conversation, so I’ll hopefully have that and we’ll go from there.”

But former Ireland international Keith Andrews, who joined O’Neill at yesterday’s launch of the 2017 Spar FAI Primary School 5s competition, sounded a note of caution about the pursuit of Hogan.

“I’d revisit it but I wouldn’t be chasing it,” he said.

“When we got close to qualification, whether it was for 2010 or 2012, if anybody had started jumping on the bandwagon then, he wouldn’t have been really welcomed in — certainly if he was playing in my position!

“Talk to him now, okay, but if it starts drifting on any longer then, no, not for me.

“You quickly realise when people come into squads whether they’re the real deal, whether they’re genuine. If they are, they get greeted with open arms but there’d be a slight scepticism, I would say, if it was with two games to go and we’re four points clear.”

Meanwhile, it sounds like O’Neill is more hopeful than expectant about unearthing new talent in the short-term from within the Irish set-up.

“Do I see someone at this moment — at underage level — who could step into the Wales game right now? I’d have a concern about it. Everyone is trying their best to get these players through. In the overall picture, you want a natural evolution as the older players drop away and retire from international football and maybe even club football. You want to have almost a seamless thing but it doesn’t naturally exist.

“Cyrus Christie could play in our team. I wouldn’t have a problem putting Cyrus Christie into our team. He’s done splendidly. Are there younger players at the minute? I’ll still be on the look-out and if (U21 manager) Noel (King) tells me I should look at this boy, I’m there.”