Ireland international Keith Andrews is already eyeing up a long-term future with West Brom following a dream debut in last week’s mauling of Wolves.
Dublin born Andrews, who started his career with Wolves in 1999, playing in 72 matches over six years, scored West Brom’s fourth goal in the 5-1 rout at Molineux.
Andrews has admitted that he would like to make the move permanent.
'I would certainly be open to a longer deal,' said Andrews.
'I have come here to play for a head coach I want to play for and a club I believe is run well and has a good set of lads that I enjoy coming in and working with every day.
'I enjoy being part of the team, so I am certainly open to it and I'm sure if I keep going the way I am then the club will be as well.
'I was delighted just to get on and make my debut and I was delighted with the result.
'The score, and to win by that margin, was Roy of the Rovers stuff. It was a dream come true.'
31 year old Andrews will be keen to get as much game time as possible for the Baggies over the next few months as he wants to remain firmly within Giovanni Trapattoni’s thoughts for a starting birth in the Irish midfield for the upcoming Euro finals in Poland later this year.
Ipswich boss Paul Jewell is hopeful of signing Leicester City defender Sean St Ledger after agreeing a fee as well as personal terms with the player.
But Jewell says the 27-year-old Irish international, who has made eight league starts this term, has a number of offers to consider.
"Everything's agreed between the two clubs and with the player's personal terms," he told BBC Radio Suffolk.
"I spoke to him on Monday. He has got a few options. Hopefully he will choose us. But we're waiting on an answer."
St Ledger agreed a three-year deal with the Foxes when he joined from Preston in the summer.
But he has failed to establish himself as a regular first-choice centre-half at the King Power Stadium and, with the European Championships this year, he will be keen to remain in the thinking of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni.
"I spoke to him at length over the weekend," Jewell added. "He just wants to make sure he makes the right decision because there are a few teams in for him.
"Hopefully we'll sell Ipswich as a long-term plan rather than a short-term option."
Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has named a 27 man squad for the Crucial Euro qualifiers against Andorra and Armenia next month.
Jon Walters and Seamus Coleman both return to the squad and Wigan's James McCarthy is also named in the Irish midfield
Shay Given Aston Villa
Kieran Westwood Sunderland AFC
David Forde Millwall AFC
John O'Shea Sunderland AFC
Kevin Foley Wolves
Stephen Kelly Fulham
Stephen Ward Wolves
Richard Dunne Aston Villa
Kevin Kilbane Derby
Sean St. Ledger Leicester
Darren O'Dea Leeds
Damien Delaney Ipswich Town
Glen Whelan Stoke
James McCarthy Wigan
Seamus Coleman Everton
Keith Andrews Ipswich
Keith Fahey Birmingham
Andy Keogh Leeds
Damien Duff Fulham
Aiden McGeady Spartak Moscow
Stephen Hunt Wolves
Liam Lawrence Portsmouth
Robbie Keane LA Galaxy
Kevin Doyle Wolves
Shane Long West Brom
Simon Cox West Brom
Jon Walters Stoke
Ireland U21 international Robbie Brady could have scored a hat-trick, but ended up without a goal to his name on Saturday, as Hull beat Portsmouth 1-0 at the KC Stadium.
The Manchester United on-loan winger was thwarted three times by Pompey keeper Jamie Ashdown, whose heroics were enough to limit the Tigers to just one goal, scored by the equally impressive Robert Koren early in the first-half.
Dublin born Brady, who is on loan with Hull until the end of the year, was the most potent attacking force for Nigel Pearson's side and had two curled efforts saved by the superb Ashdown. The stopper also prevented the Irish youngster from close-range following a chaotic goalmouth scramble.
Brady has been turning heads all over the Championship with his superb displays for Hull and has caught the eye of commentators and pundits alike, who are tipping the young winger for a massive career ahead.
Watford have secured Academy goalkeeper Jack Bonham on a long-term professional contract after the shot-stopper celebrated his 17th birthday last week.
Ireland u17 youth international Bonham, will be contracted to the Hornets until 2013.
Watford manager Malky Mackay said: “We're delighted to have him on board; he's a good prospect and we see potential there.
“Jack has now committed himself to the football club and, under Alec Chamberlain's mentoring, we hope to see him progress and go from strength to strength.”
Yet again the Irish Football Association is attempting to stop players born in the North of Ireland from having an international career with their country.
They have announced that they have approached the Court of Arbitration for Sport in a bid to stop players born in the North from representing Trapattoni’s Ireland.
In recent years FIFA have found in favour of the FAI on this issue, stating that people born in the North are Irish citizens and so have the right to represent Ireland at international level.
This latest cynical attempt at blocking players representing Ireland is causing outrage within the Nationalist community in the North and is likely to further damage the reputation of the IFA who have long been accused of turning a blind eye to the rapid sectarianism that infested the terraces and stands at Windsor Park throughout the last four decades. Following the death threats and sectarian chanting directed at Neil Lennon a number of years ago and the potential withdrawal of sponsors, the IFA introduced a programme to try and address the sectarian issues, and while it has had some success, the IFA have failed to address the issue of the English anthem and unionist flag being used at international games, despite their pronouncements of creating a neutral environment for supporters.
Speaking to the Irish news yesterday, the FAI’s Director of communications Peter Sherrard said “Our position would be that FIFA have already found in our favour in a number of cases like this and so any appeal against the FAI would effectively be an appeal against FIFA’a previous decisions".
The IFA decision has also prompted a political response from parties representing the Nationalist population in the North. Sinn Fein’s Paul Maskey said yesterday “We are aware of this issue and have, and will continue to support the right of Irish players from all over the 32 counties to play for the Irish team. The association (IFA) has not grasped the view, wishes and rights of players who want to play for the republic. We will continue to raise this at every level to ensure that the ruling made by FIFA is the one that is kept”. The SDLP’s PJ Bradley & Alex Attwood are examining the latest move by the IFA and its Fermanagh representative Tommy Gallagher said yesterday “We are definitely supporting those who wish to play for our Country”.
The Irish Football Association need to understand that for a huge number of football supporters and players in the North, the natural home for our international allegiances will always be at Lansdowne Road and not Windsor Park.
Perhaps the IFA president should take off his orange sash for a moment and listen to the players concerned
Marc Wilson “It’s the best honour you can get to represent your country – it’s always been a dream of mine to play for Ireland”
Darron Gibson “It was unbelievable you know, making the debut for your country. Everyone from Derry wants to play for Ireland. I grew up supporting Ireland, so it was a natural choice for me”
Shane Duffy’s Father "Shane told me it has always been his ambition to play for the Republic of Ireland. I for one can't believe that it is now done and I'm delighted. It's always been his childhood dream to play for the Republic"Another irony of whole eligibility issue is that it didn't stop Nigel Worthington turning the heads of two Manchester United kids, Joe Dudgeon and Oliver Norwood, both of whom played under-age football for England but appear to have chosen the North of Ireland. That's the problem with the IFA's constant spluttering on this issue. They see no problem whatsoever in persuading two English kids to play for the North but lose the plot completely when someone from Derry or Belfast chooses to represent Trapattoni's Ireland. It's a bizarre double standard.
