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Published 09:36 11 Jun 2019 BST
David McGoldrick, second right, is congratulated by team-mate Scott Hogan after Ireland's first goal during the UEFA EURO 2020 Qualifier at the Aviva Stadium. (Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile)[/caption]
After their opening win of the qualifiers, the player himself acknowledged the need for him to be a go-to player in the centre of the pitch as well as an attacking threat:
"I have started off with a goal there. I am aiming to get more goals and that's what I am trying to do. I'll try to get into the box more often, get onto the end of balls in and around the box and shoot more."Easier said than done, it would appear, but Hendrick - this past week - was at the end of another long season. In the 2-0 win over Gibraltar, Conor Hourihane was the one with the raking passes and the one barking for the ball. Hendrick was tidy but far too sedate. In the post-match analysis on RTE, former Ireland playmaker Liam Brady commented:
"Hendrick over the two games against Denmark and tonight was anonymous, we didn't see him. That was an opportunity for me that was missed to see if that lad [Matt Doherty] can play midfield because, take Coleman out of the equation it's probably Doherty who's our best player."When a man of Brady's footballing calibre starts suggesting a fullback might be the better way of adding some drive to the midfield, it is worth noting. Irish fans have long held high hopes for Hendrick, ever since Giovanni Trappatoni gave him his debut - a fortnight after he had turned 21 - in February 2013. We don't ask for too much from our footballers, in terms of being world-beaters at least, but fans would just love that 2016 Hendrick vintage back. Brave, hungry for the ball and a probing, pulsing midfield presence.
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