Republic of Ireland boss Stephen Kenny has admitted goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher needs to leave Liverpool this summer if he is to fulfil his potential.
The 24-year-old will meet up with his international colleagues ahead of the Euro 2024 qualifiers against Greece and Gibraltar later this month and resume his battle with Gavin Bazunu for the role of Ireland’s number one.
However, the man who played in the Reds’ 2022 Carabao Cup final victory over Chelsea is still firmly in the shadow of Brazilian star Alisson Becker at Anfield and made just four club appearances for his club last season, and Kenny expects him to seek pastures new before the new campaign gets under way.
He said: “I would fully expect that. It’s not right normally to speak about a player moving, but he’s at the stage where he’s behind probably one of the best goalkeepers in the world and it’s not going to get any easier.
“He can’t afford not playing. He knows that and he’s known that for a while. It’s not easy. There’s a process you go through with a club like that and I think and it wouldn’t be a surprise for him to move in the summer, and he knows that.
“I think he’s ready to go and play regularly because he needs to. It’s hard to leave Liverpool, it’s such an iconic club, but he’s not so young now. He’s 24 and he needs to play and he knows that.”
Kenny faces something of a conundrum with his keepers, with Kelleher, Bazunu and Mark Travers all at Premier League clubs, but struggling for regular football.
Bazunu, 21, lost his place at Southampton as they fought, ultimately unsuccessfully, to stave off relegation, although his international manager is optimistic his confidence will not be affected by that experience.
Kenny said: “He’s done remarkable, really, in a short career, Gavin as well. For one so young, he’s done remarkably well. He’s always looked very confident playing for us.”
Full-back Matt Doherty is another man who has been starved of football this season having made just two brief appearances as a substitute for Atletico Madrid since joining them from Tottenham in January.
Kenny said: “I’m sure when he took that move, he knew he would find it hard for games, but he thought he would play an amount of games, for sure. He couldn’t have envisaged that he wouldn’t play at all. That was frustrating for him and tough mentally to deal with.”
Kenny has been forced to omit Rotherham striker Chiedozie Ogbene from his 25-man squad for the games against Greece in Athens on June 16 and Gibraltar in Dublin three days later after he failed to recover from a hamstring injury.
However, 18-year-old Brighton counterpart Evan Ferguson will report for a nine-day training camp in Antalya full of confidence at the end of his breakthrough season.
Kenny said: “He’s taken everything in his stride, he’s a single-minded individual and nothing has fazed him. He seems to be able to adapt to whatever the occasion demands.”
Maguire out for 'a few weeks' as Man Utd injury list grows
Harry Maguire has confirmed he will be sidelined for "a few weeks" after sustaining an injury against Aston Villa.
The centre-back went down holding his calf in the first half of Manchester United's 0-0 draw on Sunday and was substituted at half-time, before he was seen leaving Villa Park in a protective boot.
He has made nine appearances for United so far this season, coming off the bench to score the equaliser in their 3-3 Europa League draw with Porto prior to Sunday’s game.
"Frustrated to pick up an injury at the weekend, will be a few weeks on the sidelines for me, but I'll come back stronger," Maguire posted on Instagram.
He joins Noussair Mazraoui, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo on United's injury list, with the trio all pulling out of their respective international squads after sustaining issues in that game.
Ten Hag doing 'a brilliant job' at Man Utd despite pressure, says Moyes
Former Manchester United manager David Moyes believes Erik ten Hag is doing a "brilliant job" at the club despite the Dutchman coming under pressure.
United have made their worst-ever start to a Premier League campaign in history, taking just eight points from their seven games so far, and sit in 14th.
It is their lowest tally at this stage of a league campaign since 1989-90 (seven) when they finished 13th in the top-flight.
They are winless in their last five games in all competitions, drawing four of those, including their opening two Europa League matches around a 3-0 defeat to Tottenham at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils have also only netted five goals in the Premier League this term, their lowest at this stage in the competition, with only 19th-place Southampton scoring less than them.
As such, Ten Hag has come under pressure once again, with some reports suggesting the club are lining up potential replacements, though the manager insists he has the backing of the club's hierarchy.
However, Moyes, who managed the club between July 2014 and April 2014, believes the 54-year-old is handling the scrutiny well.
"It's really difficult, but when you go into a job like that, it's always going to be like that," Moyes told BBC Sport.
"I think [Ten Hag] has showed brilliant resilience in the situation he is in. He should be credited for how well he has conducted himself.
"I don't see him ducking any questions or any media interviews, so I think you have to give him great credit for that.
"But it's a job which is going to attract immense pressure and have an immense amount of people talking.
"I think he is doing a brilliant job."
Magee eager to make mark in Concacaf Nations League on return to Reggae Boyz setup
After almost a year on the outside watching from a distance, Tyreek Magee is now buzzing with excitement about his return to Jamaica’s senior Reggae Boyz set up for their upcoming Concacaf Nations League fixtures against Nicaragua and Honduras.
Magee, whose name is synonymous with flair and creativity in the midfield, seems set to make his first senior Reggae Boyz appearance since late last year, and it is an opportunity he is hoping to grasp with a showcase his growth to once again re-establish himself on the international stage.
The 25-year-old has been holding his own in the USL Championship with Colorado Switchbacks, scoring three goals in 13 appearances, as he has impressed fans and critics alike with his performances this season.
Magee’s consistent displays and creative vision caught the eye of Reggae Boyz Head coach, Steve McClaren, who believes his inclusion could bolster a squad brimming with attacking talent for the October 10 and 14 League A encounters.
For Magee, the return to the national fold is both a validation of his hard work and a stepping stone for what’s to come.
“I'm definitely happy to be back in the squad. It's been a while now, so I'm looking forward to it,” Magee, who has 10 international caps, said in an interview ahead of the team’s departure for Nicaragua.
“I’m excited and looking forward to making the most of this opportunity. As I said before, it’s been a while since I’ve been with the squad, and I’ve been putting in a lot of work to make sure I’m ready. I need to affect the games as much as possible, so whatever minutes I get, I need to make the most of it so I'm really looking forward to these two games,” he added.
The former Jamaica College and Harbour View FC standout has had an eventful journey since leaving the island for opportunities abroad. After a four-year spell in Belgium with KAS Eupen, Magee found his rhythm again in the USL, where he has been lauded for his technical ability and leadership on the pitch.
Despite the challenges of adjusting to different leagues and styles of play, Magee never lost sight of his goal—returning to the Reggae Boyz setup. His inclusion in the squad comes at a pivotal time for Jamaica, as they look to secure vital points in the Nations League and continue building momentum under McClaren’s leadership.
These upcoming matches — away to Nicaragua on Thursday and at home to Honduras next Monday — are crucial in shaping the Boyz’ path toward potential qualification for the Concacaf Gold Cup and, ultimately, the 2026 World Cup.
The Boyz currently head Group B on four points, same as Nicaragua, with Honduras (three points) and Cuba (two points) in close quarters. French Guiana and Trinidad and Tobago round out the group with a point each.
McClaren, who took over the reins earlier this year, has emphasized a possession-based style with a focus on midfield creativity, making Magee’s return particularly timely.
“I’ve always looked for a number 10; a creative player out of the box, somebody who can change games and I asked Merron [Gordon] and he recommended Tyreek [Magee]. I had a little look at him and I liked him. This boy has ability, skill, and can change a game and I said yeah, we’ll give him a chance. That’s what I aim to do,” McClaren shared.
With the window of opportunity now opened up for the midfielder, Magee’s focus is clear—perform well, seize the opportunity, and help the team achieve its goals.
“I’ve learned a lot over the past year about myself and about my game. I did a lot of self-searching and stuff where I was just thinking to myself, like, what I want from football and stuff like that, and I feel like it's been helping me so far. I’m in a good place right now, and I want to show that on the field, so I’m ready to give everything for the team,” Magee declared.
Another exciting prospect of Magee’s call-up is the fact that he could possibly get to grace the international stage alongside former Jamaica College teammate Norman Campbell.
“Yeah, it's something that doesn't really happen much, so I want to embrace it. We grew up in the same community as well, so I'm definitely looking forward to playing with him [Norman Campbell] representing the country,” he ended.
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