Shamrock Rovers forward Graham Burke has been included in the Republic of Ireland squad to take on Celtic in Glasgow on Sunday.
Burke played 88 minutes for Shamrock Rovers in the Hoops 0-0 draw with Sligo on Saturday night and he will be in line to make his first appearance for Ireland in Scott Brown’s testimonial game.
The goal of the season montage will be 75% Graham Burke goals @ShamrockRovers. pic.twitter.com/eV4Dyhm8bZ
— Darren Cleary (@RadioCleary) May 1, 2018
The 🇮🇪 squad to take on @CelticFC this afternoon: 1. Doyle (GK), 2. Coleman, 3. Stevens, 4. Egan, 5. Doherty, 6. Williams, 8. Burke, 9. Maguire, 10. Browne, 11. McClean, 12. Lenihan, 13. O'Dowda, 14. Williams, 15. Cunningham, 16. O'Malley (GK), 17. Robinson, 19. Walters #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/6yXBUCqKxZ
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) May 20, 2018
Burke has scored 10 goals for Rovers this season and O’Neill said that he was impressed by the 24-year-old’s performance in the Hoops 3-0 win over Cork last month.
“It’s small beginnings but it’s good and hopefully he will get a chance,” said the Ireland boss. “He is going to play for Shamrock Rovers on Saturday and he will join us on Sunday for the game,
“I thought he did very well in the game where I went to see him [the recent home win over Cork City in which he scored a spectacular goal from distance].
“Sometimes when players come back from England they might think their careers are over, but they can get a new lease of life in the game, get started again, get a bit of encouragement from their coaches, which is important, get a bit of self-belief and charge their way back again.
“He will play on Saturday and travel on Sunday.”
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