Versatility the trump card for Josh Honohan after Republic of Ireland call-up
Heimir Hallgrimsson says Josh Honohan's versatility was the key calling card that earned the Shamrock Rovers defender a first call-up into the Republic of Ireland squad for the friendlies against Senegal and Luxembourg next month.
Honohan, who can play across the back line from central roles to wing-back on either side, is the one League of Ireland player included for the matches on 6 and 10 June.
Speaking at Wednesday's squad announcement at FAI HQ, Ireland boss Hallgrimsson said the decision to bring the Corkman in was down to the tactical flexibility he brings to the table as well as a means of assessing how he adapts to life in the senior international set-up.
"One of his biggest attributes is he is a versatile player, he can play on the left and the right so he gives flexibility in in-game changes," said Hallgrimsson.
"That's one of his biggest advantages. We want to see him in our environment with these players which are mostly Premier League players. Normally good players can step up when they are with better players."
Hallgrimsson said he had met and spoken to Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley, who had been previously critical of comments the Boys in Green manager had made in the past regarding LOI players.
"(Bradley) shared information about his team. I always ask coaches about their team, is there someone I should have my eye on etc? We had Josh in our preliminary squad last month and had been watching him for some time. It shouldn't be a surprise that he's in the squad," he said.
Among the other new faces in the squad are St Mirren midfielder Killian Phillips, on-loan Leyton Orient goalkeeper Josh Keeley and Stade Reims' midfielder John Patrick Finn.
While Keeley is a younger option brought in due to the injury-enforced absence of Gavin Bazunu, Hallgrimsson is keen to add depth in central midfield.
"Killian I have seen on a couple of occasions. I have gone to St Mirren and watched him," he said.
"He has an abundance of energy. He has physicality and height. But I love his energy. He's a little bit different from what we have in terms of size and technique. We just wanted to see him in this environment.
"I just wanted to see him and the same goes for John Joe and we wanted to measure him in relation to our other players."
Madrid-born and raised, Finn is also eligible for France and Cameroon, but has opted for Ireland for whom he qualifies for via his Mayo-born father.
Hallgrimsson scouted and met the player late last month during a trip to the continent to gauge the progress of Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar) and Andrew Omobamidele (on loan at Strasbourg from Nottingham Forest) and told RTÉ Sport that he is keen to see more Irish players taking the chance to go to top flight leagues that offer first-team opportunities to young players.
"All leagues have their own life. It is totally different football played in Holland or France," he said. "So it is whatever is best for you. You could find a league what is best for you.
"I would say for our younger players, going to a place where you have developmental leagues, meaning clubs that are taking you in and maybe sell you as a better player - not coming in as a number in a squad.
"There are leagues that are kind of stops going somewhere else. I know that from Iceland there are a lot of players going to Belgium, Holland, Sweden and Denmark and then sell them.
"For our younger players, it's good to think outside the zone they've normally been focusing on."
Seamus Coleman's future beyond the end of this season is unclear, with the captain's Everton contract expiring next month.
Hallgrimsson said calling the veteran full-back into his squad for the first time since last September was a no-brainer, citing his leadership quality around the camp, although the Icelandic coach admitted he does not know what the Donegal man's plans are in the longer term.
"No he didn't (tell me) and if he did I wouldn't tell it you. Because it would be his decision to announce," Hallgrimsson said, although Coleman is in his thoughts for the World Cup campaign, adding: "Yes, otherwise we wouldn't be selecting him."
Meanwhile, a clutch of the Championship contingent such as Josh Cullen and Finn Azaz have been left out of this squad - Robbie Brady the notable exception due to a lack of depth at left-back - with Hallgrimsson reasoning that after a long season, those plying their trade in the English second tier would be better served resting and preparing to go full pelt for September.
"Another factor in this is as well we expect to have no holiday next summer. We expect to come in straight from the season, into pre-season and going to the US in the World Cup. So no holiday next season, we can at least give them some extra holiday this season," he said, adding that the selection of Senegal as a friendly opponent is motivated by the need to face a non-European team with the summer of 2026 in mind.
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