English Football League Preview: 10 potential Irish storylines to track this season
NEW ROLE: Now 33 and his Ireland career behind, the classy midfielder is gradually migrating into coaching, confirmed by the hybrid role cited in his unveiling, but he’s capable of influencing Barnsley’s promotion bid.
In this ultra-competitive era for Premier League minutes, the lower divisions remain a harvest for Irish players to thrive.
Championship clubs regularly splash out eight-figure sums on recruits in a bid to reach the Holy Grail of the Premier League and the Irish colony have found themselves annually in the cluster of clubs yo-yoing between the divisions.
Some Irish use the tiers as a ladder to reach the Premier Division while others are on the way down, still operating at a level where a living is sustained and crowds are attracted.
Here we look at 10 potential storylines to track over a season which kicks off this weekend and runs for 46 games, up to 49 for those involved in the playoffs.
Midweek games are the norm, rather than expectation, and a new SKY TV deal schedules an abundance of games on Friday nights.
This weekend’s opening series is staggered to optimise audiences.
Stoke City and relegated Birmingham City were also chasing the striker until he settled on Bristol for his £2.7m move from QPR last month.
A forward with his profile – physically imposing, 23 and an overall nuisance to defenders – was in demand and despite yet to find his prolific goal-scoring boots, there’s growth yet in the Irish international.
Celtic never seemed stable ground for the tricky winger, a problem many an Irish compatriot has found over the years, and it just a case of what English club Vata would choose.
Watford is an outfit renowned for high turnover of players and managers but the lack of recruits has led to boss Tom Cleverley indicating Vata may be thrown in from the start.
The son of former Albanian international Rudi is a talent capable of sparkling.
The Corkman is back at the club he spent three years at on his return up the tiers towards the Premier League with Aston Villa.
Now 33 and his Ireland career behind, the classy midfielder is gradually migrating into coaching, confirmed by the hybrid role cited in his unveiling, but he’s capable of influencing Barnsley’s promotion bid.
Second-season syndrome is always a concern for budding talent and after being blooded by Sheffield United in the Premier League last season, they’ve spared him the scrap of Championship fare by sanctioning a season-long loan.
This time last year, the 18-year-old was the first-choice right-back of St Patrick’s Athletic and hasn’t been shy about eyeing that slot for Ireland’s senior team in succession to the elder incumbents. Must back that up this term.
Peterborough are known for their shrew recruit – the sell-on slice due once Ivan Toney secures a mega move from Brentford a vindication – and Hayes is their latest.
The 21-year-old operates primarily on the edge but is comfortable centrally too, evidenced during his time at Fleetwood.
No fee was revealed when he join Darren Ferguson’s side last month but the presence of milestone bonus and knock-on benefits reflects his potential.
Anyone following the Netflix documentary on the club’s rise can appreciate the role McClean played in their promotion, a second straight one under the ownership of Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
That resulted in the 35-year-old being handed a fresh two-year deal to continue the next chapter and we can expect all sides of his personality, including the fiery aspect, to manifest in front of our eyes.
Another League of Ireland graduate, the striker smashed Rovers’ record transfer fee by sealing a £500,000 transfer from Fleetwood, tasked with restoring their former glories.
The Gas Men have much to do off the pitch, compared to their City neighbours, for that to be countenanced but the Kuwaiti backers saw something in the 23-year-old ex-Bohemians frontman to feel the investment was worthy.
Like Vata, Quinn needed a way out of Celtic and Mansfield has proven a haven for many youngsters seeking a rebound in their career.
Nigel Clough views the 19-year-old winger as integral to his plans, opting to sign him after a trial and line him alongside one of his two former Ireland midfielder uncles, 38-year-old Stephen.
The son of Biscuits, humorously entitled Crumbs by his Cork City teammates, initially moved to England carrying a shoulder injury but is fit and well, poised to challenge for the No 1 spot at the relegated club.
He faces competition from former Manchester United trainee Jay Lynch, who’s seven years his elder at 31, but whether it’s under Charlie Adam at his parent club or on loan, match-time is a priority for the stopper.
Otherwise that Ireland call-up he received under John O’Shea will be a cameo.
Kelly is Carlisle’s striker in succession to Sean Maguire and his brawn appears to be essential to Paul Simpson’s plans of an immediate return to League One.
Injuries in his career have been cruel for the Donegalman but this is the opportunity to flourish after an erratic spell for Rotherham United.
Links to a League of Ireland comeback surfaced before the window closed but he’s staying put for now.
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