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David McGoldrick joins up with Republic of Ireland squad ahead of Finland game

David McGoldrick has linked up with his Republic of Ireland teammates in advance of Sunday's Nations...


David McGoldrick joins up with...

Sport

David McGoldrick joins up with Republic of Ireland squad ahead of Finland game


David McGoldrick has linked up with his Republic of Ireland teammates in advance of Sunday's Nations League clash with Finland at the Aviva Stadium.

The Sheffield United striker missed Thursday's 1-1 draw away to Bulgaria due to a minor foot injury but he's been given the medical green-light to play this weekend.

32-year-old McGoldrick will train with the squad on Saturday morning in Dublin, boosting Stephen Kenny's striking options for his second game in charge.

“He really is at the peak of his career now because he’s the focal point in a team," Kenny said of the Irish player of the year earlier this summer.

“People say he’s not a prolific scorer but he got 15 goals to get Sheffield United promoted.

“He’s a creator of goals and we’ve got a lot of good young strikers coming through. I think he’ll complement them, with the attributes, the awareness, his technical ability and his vision.

"He’ll complement those players coming through and he can have a big impact on their careers, so yes, David is very important to us.”

In McGoldrick's absence, Norwich's Adam Idah won his first senior cap in Thursday's match in Sofia and the new Ireland boss was impressed by the teenager.

“Aaron has had just one start in a competitive game before. He hasn’t played on the left for his club in a long time or really ever, although he played in the U21 international team on the left. So he had to adapt to that.

“He’s a real goal threat as you see and that’s a big part of it. He gives you something different in that front three in that he creates and scores goals, and he’s a handful. So he had a decent game.”



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