Big, Scott Hogan-sized boost for Ireland’s World Cup qualification hopes

Massive news.

Aston Villa's Scott Hogan has opted to declare for Ireland after holding talks with Martin O'Neill according to Daniel McDonnell of the Irish Independent.  The 24-year-old joined the club at the end of January in a deal suspected to be worth about £15m. The striker will be a massive boost to the squad given than Jon Walters may well be in the twilight stages of his career. O'Neill yesterday announced a provisional 39-man squad to face Georgia and Serbia in which the main talking point was the call up of Preston's Seán Maguire. It is the first time that the 23-year-old has earned a call up to the international side in a move that has long been demanded by Irish fans. However, Maguire may find it difficult to break into the starting line up with Hogan now called up into the squad. According to the Irish Independent, O'Neill had held face-to-face talks with Hogan where in he convinced the 24-year-old to declare for Ireland. The Aston Villa forward is eligible through his grandparents and will now have to formally apply for an Irish passport with a chance that paperwork and formalities may be done in time for the crunch World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Serbia at the start of September. Although unlikely, it is still a massive boost for the Irish squad that has an ageing forward line.