Soccer: Connolly aims to prove a point

Republic of Ireland striker David Connolly has put his return to English football back on hold after re-establishing himself with Dutch giants Feyenoord.

And he hopes to push his case for a new contract in his return to World Cup action.

Connolly is back in favour at Feyenoord after a year on loan to Dutch second division side Excelsior and a brief sojourn at Wolves.

Now he has clinched a return to the Republic starting line-up for the first time in a year for the World Cup qualifier against Cyprus.

Connolly says: "I'm happy in Holland again and enjoying my football there.

"Feyenoord is a massive club and it is fantastic to be playing in front of 50,000 fans again in every home game. I've got a great rapport with those supporters and I've promised them I won't speak to any other club until I know what Feyenoord want to do when my contract expires at the end of the season.

"I really can't say whether my career would have gone better if I'd moved from Watford to another English side, possibly in the Premiership, and maybe I won't ever know.

"All I can say is that things could hardly be better for me at the moment. I'm back in the first-team squad with Feyenoord, scored a goal after coming on as a substitute on Saturday and I'm feeling sharp.

"Now I've got this opportunity with Ireland again and that means a lot. It won't be easy stepping into Niall Quinn's big shoes - especially as mine are a lot smaller.

"But I'm confident I can get a good partnership with Robbie Keane in a match that will be tough but is also one we have to win if we want to get to Japan for the World Cup finals next year."