Heimir Hallgrimsson hails 'natural goalscorer' Jaden Umeh after Ireland call-up

NATURAL GOALSCORER: Jaden Umeh during the UEFA U17 European Championships. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile.

Jaden Umeh’s ‘natural goalscoring’ ability and ‘physicality’ can bolster Ireland’s depth along the Euro ’28 journey, according to Heimir Hallgrimsson.

The Ireland manager will work with the 18-year-old Corkman from tomorrow when the Benfica attacker is among 21 players reporting for a training camp in Spain.

That exercise will conclude with a friendly against Grenada on May 16 before another squad closer to first-choice is selected from the other friendlies at home to Qatar on May 27 and away to fellow World Cup bound Canada in Montreal on June 4.

“First and foremost, Jaden is just a natural goalscorer,” Hallgrimsson said about the player also promoted to senior duty by his club manager José Mourinho.

“He has physicality as well, even though he is young, and that physicality that can be brought into the squad.

“And then, just individual his talent through his dribbling skills, especially going forward.

“It will be interesting for us to work with him over the next 11 days.”

Meanwhile, Hallgrimsson is adamant there’s no fear of losing Owen Eliding to England.

The former Sligo Rovers striker has hit the ground running since joining Scottish top-flight outfit Hibernian, drawing admirers from clubs and countries.

As the English-born forward is awaiting his Irish citizenship, he could technically declare for England but the Ireland boss is working on the basis of having the 20-year-old available for the Uefa Nations League campaign kicking off in September.

“I heard of the report, so I just called him this morning and said I was going to a press conference,” he explained.

“I asked was he committed and he 100% is.

“Although Owen cannot play the games against Qatar and Canada, we might even bring him in, just to have him around the squad in May and June.

“But he's committed to us so I'm not worried about that one.”