“He is the nearest to Hoolahan” – Mick McCarthy praises Alan Judge

"He's someone that can play wide left, wide right or in behind the striker."

Mick McCarthy has praised Alan Judge and tipped the Dubliner to potentially fill the creative void vacated by Wes Hoolahan in the Republic of Ireland team. Hoolahan announced his retirement from the national team at the start of 2018. The veteran West Brom midfielder was undoubtedly the most creative player at Ireland's disposal during his time with the side, and replacing him will be a tough task. However, McCarthy reckons that Judge has the qualities to be a creative hub in his team as they attempt to qualify for Euro 2020. "He's the nearest to Hoolahan that can play in the middle of the pitch. He finds passes and he's got a goal in him," McCarthy said about the Ipswich Town midfielder. Judge was in the form of his life three years ago for Brentford. The 30-year-old had 14 goals and 11 assists in the Championship and was set for a move to the Premier League, as well as a place in the Ireland squad for Euro 2016. He was nominated for the division's player of the year award and was included in the Championship team of the season. However, in a game at Portman Road against Ipswich in April 2016, Judge was on the end of a horror tackle that broke his leg. According to the Dubliner, his leg was "mangled." He didn't make a first-team appearance again until January 2018. https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/1106217215270051840 Judge scored an emotional winning goal for Ireland against the United States last June and McCarthy, who tried to sign him for Ipswich, sees the midfielder playing a part in his Ireland team. "Is he back to the form he was at [before the injury]? Not quite because it looked like he was going to be a Premier League player," the Ireland manager told reporters after announcing his final squad for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Gibraltar and Georgia.

"He was a long time out, he broke his leg at Ipswich and he's back there now playing his best football. I know he's enjoying it, I've seen him twice and he's been excellent. He's someone that can play wide left, wide right or in behind the striker."

McCarthy also said he was "very impressed" with Josh Cullen, who earned his first call-up to the Ireland senior squad. The West Ham United midfielder, currently on loan at League One side Charlton Athletic, was drafted into the squad after Alan Browne picked up an ankle injury playing for Preston North End. Cullen is from Essex and qualifies for Ireland through his grandparents, who were from Leitrim. He has captained Ireland at Under-21 level and McCarthy considers him an option to play as a deep-lying midfielder in his team. Ireland start their Euro 2020 qualification campaign on March 23 with a trip to Gibraltar, before playing Georgia in Dublin three days later.