10 Irish plotlines to track this Premier League season
WEST END BOYS: Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher applauds the fans after a pre-season friendly match at Loftus Road Stadium. Pic: John Walton/PA Wire.
Instead of sporadic cameos in the Cup, or longer but inevitable short spells deputising for Alisson, the Corkman has not had a clear run of games at 26.
Brentford are giving Kelleher that platform and the busyness it’ll bring generates a different type of pressure. He’s withstood everything thrown at him so far in his customary relaxed nature so there’s no reason to doubt him.
David Moyes was the manager to pluck Séamus Coleman from Sligo for €80,000 and 17 years later, in his second stint at Everton, was determined to keep hold of the veteran.
His ninth contract was sealed and he’ll likely migrate into a coaching role for next season. Coleman turns 37 in October and injuries restricting him to three Premier League appearances last season indicate his outings at the new Hill Dickinson stadium will be irregular.
People believe Matt Doherty when he claims immunity to flak, for he’s shipped it since breaking through at Wolves under Mick McCarthy. He’s back at Molineux two years after spells at Spurs and Atlético Madrid and heading into his final season under contract, the 33-year-old remains a go-to for manager Vitor Pereira. The return of Colombian Yerson Mosquera from injury will provide competition, something he’s relished for club and country.
Be it due to missed transfer targets or not, Eddie Howe has relied heavily on 21-year-old Galwegian in pre-season. "The loan spell last season for Alex was pivotal,” Howe said this week of his spell at Bolton Wanderers.
“He needed that exposure to match action, has come back for pre-season and done well. He's been thrown into some challenging games and has always come out with credit. Let's see what's next."
Appointed skipper for his country, Nathan Collins holds that privilege too at Brentford following the departure of Christian Norgaard to Arsenal.
Those leadership skills were evident when handed the armband at Stoke City when 18 but he has backed it up on the pitch, as the only outfield player to not miss a minute of Premier League action. At 24, he’s still to reach his peak.
Another club captain and Ireland mainstay, Cullen’s Burnley have been installed as favourites for the immediate drop. He’s oscillated between the Championship and Premier League since joining the Clarets from Anderlecht in 2022. The experience of his last top-flight season should sculpt the 29-year-old into a better performer against some of the best midfielders in the world. Survival is the name of the game.
Browne emerged through the Ireland ranks as Cullen’s midfield companion and he ended his long spell at Preston North End for a chance to leave Championship existence behind. He joined Sunderland on a three-year deal 12 months ago featured in just 22 games, primarily due to a fractured bone in September. He’s lost his Ireland squad spot and there is the possibility of him departing the Black Cats before the September 1 transfer deadline.
Anticipation this time last year about the €20m purchase from Lyon figuring for Everton proved ill-founded as he didn’t get a look-in under Sean Dyche. That was flipped upon the return of David Moyes in January. Slotting to right-back didn’t bother him and equalisers that nicked draws against Brentford and West Ham United led to him labelled “The Cork Cafu” by local press. A big season for Everton and O’Brien.
John Morling is back on the FAI’s radar to fill the Chief Football Officer’s vacancy and it was his spell as Brighton and Hove Albion Academy chief that signalled the influx of Irish. Evan Ferguson is off to Roma for the season, their €11m recruit from Derby County, Eiran Cashin, has been loaned to Birmingham City, leaving Andy Moran as the sole Irishman under Fabian Hurzeler. The German has only used the playmaker sparingly, strengthening speculation he could be on his way to Germany or USA.
The paucity of home-grown candidates for the last Ireland vacancy highlighted the lack of experience gained by managers at top-level. Keith Andrews will automatically be in the equation the next time because Brentford entrusted him with succeeding Thomas Frank as their head coach. That title is very much reality as the 44-year-old is left to deal with on-field matters. Leading the sack race won’t perturb him.
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