Parrott, Ebosele and Ferguson shine in Europe as Irish stars abroad strengthen World Cup case

From Serie A to the Conference League, Irish players abroad are finding form as Hallgrimsson finalises his Ireland squad

Troy Parrott celebrates scoring for AZ Alkmaar. Pic: Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images 

Tolka Park on Thursday and Heimir Hallgrimsson was on domestic duty but couldn't prevent himself from straying into broader European horizons.

A glance at his phone during the half-time break produced upbeat and timely news.

Conference League playoff night saw Troy Parrott bring his season tally into double figures by August through his latest strike for AZ Alkmaar coming against Levski Sofia.

In the same competition, Festy Ebosele grabbed his first European goal.

He’s jumped around the continent from England to Italy and now Turkey, getting off the mark on his tenth appearance for Istanbul Başakşehir.

Hallgrimsson unveils his Ireland squad on Tuesday for the opening World Cup qualifiers against Hungary and Armenia on September 6 and 10. He won’t mind where his players are lining out, once they are doing so regularly.

While there’s always been a smattering of Irish players operating beyond the traditional UK market – Robbie Keane for LA Galaxy, Frank Stapleton with Ajax and Aiden McGeady moving to Spartak Moscow for instance – the proportion is increasing.

Reasons are principally two-fold. Wealthier English Premier League clubs trawling the globe to handpick the best talent squeezes competition, influencing players like Evan Ferguson to choose a continental option over dropping into a relegation battle.

There’s also the backdrop of Brexit. Clubs in Germany, Italy and Spain attuned to the fact that since 2021 Irish players can no longer join a UK club until they reach their 18th birthday. Inter Milan and AC Milan swooping to sign Kevin Zefi and Cathal Heffernan respectively was a case in point.

Adjusting to the new languages and cultures is a test for Irish exports but the earlier integration for the likes of Hoffenheim duo Matthew Moore and Finn Sherlock can present a head start.

Udinese suddenly took an interest in Irish players that they’d never done before, paying €600,000 to St Patrick’s Athletic in a pre-contract deal for James Abankwah. The Italians also swooped for Ebosele when his first club Derby County encountered financial stress. Both were soon blooded in Serie A.

Ferguson is also only 20 but loftier expectations accompany him heading into Saturday’s debut against Bologna. Roma will entrust the loan capture from Brighton and Hove Albion with the striker's responsibilities, a duty he must embrace by delivering goals. Pre-season indicators testify to his readiness for a new stage.

Troy Parrott has harnessed that mantle since being free of the Spurs shackles. Loan spells in England accrued mixed outcomes but he found his groove in the Netherlands, initially at Excelsior in another temporary move. His 17 goals in 32 appearances over the 2023/4 season boosted his profile to the extent AZ Alkmaar paid the upfront asking price of €8m.

A haul of 20 goals in 47 outings represented a stellar debut season and continuing that explosive form will undoubtedly attract hawkers as the transfer deadline closure on Monday week looms.

Elsewhere, there was a sense of escapism too about Joe Hodge fleeing the nest to join Tondela. The Portuguese top-tier side tabled a four-year contract for a player long touted for stardom since winning Manchester City’s Academy player of the year.

Wolves offered an outlet he grasped by making his Premier League debut within a fortnight of his 20th birthday. Loans to QPR and Huddersfield Town kept him active but the Iberian league could be ideal for a playmaker of his technical nous. He needs a sequence of starts to bridge that gap between Ireland U21 prominence and senior exposure.

Andrew Omobamidele is just glad to be back playing. Injuries and managerial upheaval at Nottingham Forest, still ongoing, conspired against that move working and he was loaned to RS Strasbourg last January.

The French outfit, part of the multi-club consortium that features Chelsea, upgraded his loan to permanent in the summer and the centre-back collected a timely 90 minutes in Thursday’s Conference League draw against Bröndby IF.

Also operating in France is John Patrick Finn, an Ireland debutant in June.

That his Stade Reims side were relegated should create scope to feature more frequently. Former Shamrock Rovers teen winger Ike Orazi is of similar mind there.

Callum O’Dowda should earn a recall on Tuesday, fresh from involvement in Tuesday’s Champions League playoff. He recently joined Ferencváros, playing under compatriot Robbie Keane. His wanderings from Israel to Hungary could eventually culminate in him returning to manage Ireland one day.

Keane’s playing career was franked by a successful twilight spell in America whereas the latest Irishman rocking up in Los Angeles will aim to use the platform to accelerate his career.

Andy Moran’s loan move from Brighton and Hove Albion was confirmed on Thursday and the focus will be on how the stylish talent adapts.

It’s often said that players of his ilk can flourish outside of the English goldfish bowl.

How he and his former Brighton colleague Ferguson fare in their exotic new surrounds will be closely watched by Irish fans – and Hallgrimsson.