As we head towards the end of February, the stakes are set to rise in league all across Europe as clubs jostle for position in varying ends of the table. It is during this type of period that you can get the real measure of a footballer, with a number of Irish players included.
Quite a few of our internationals are about to embark on what could be pivotal spells in their careers. Some of them are hoping to bounce back from disappointing spells of form, while others will be hoping to bring their games to the next level.
With that in mind, here are seven Irish players that have a lot to gain or lose over the coming months.
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7 Irish players facing pivotal periods in their career
Troy Parrott - Excelsior Rotterdam (on loan from Spurs)
Troy Parrott's career journey has been far from smooth up to this point.
The Dubliner has had a number of loan spells in recent seasons, most of which did not work out in the manner he would have hoped for. This season, things have been different.
Parrott has been in brilliant form in the Netherlands, scoring seven goals and picking up three assists in the Eredivisie. Having spent much of the first part of the season as a substitute, he has registered one goal contribution every 110 minutes.
His form has not gone unnoticed, with the likes of Ajax, PSV, and Feyenoord said to be closely monitoring his progress ahead of a potential move this summer. It seems clear that his long-term future lies away from Spurs.
Parrott now needs to maintain that level of form in order to earn a transfer this summer and finally find a more permanent home in order to take the next step in his career. Dutch football certainly seems to suit him.
Mikey Johnston - West Brom (on loan from Celtic)
Mikey Johnston was largely a forgotten man at Celtic for much of this season, only becoming part of the first team squad near the end of November. Even then, his playing time remained limited.
A loan move to West Brom on deadline day seemed to suit all parties, with the winger playing in all four Championship fixtures since then and starting the last two.
Johnston has had a very difficult period in his career over the last couple of years. Having suffered from various injury issues, he would be in and out of the Vitória Guimarães team during his loan spell in Portugal last season. That continued in Glasgow in recent months.
It will be hoped that this spell at West Brom can provide a timely reminder of the quality he possesses. He has certainly shown during his time with Ireland what he is capable of.
Dara O'Shea - Burnley
Unlike some of the other players on this list, Dara O'Shea has not struggled for form or playing time this season. In fact, despite Burnley's struggles, he has been hugely impressive during his return to the Premier League.
Barring a major reversal in fortunes over the coming months, it looks likely that Vincent Kompany's side will be relegated at the end of the campaign. However, O'Shea will be looking to show that he can thrive at that level.
If he does so, another big move could be on the cards this summer.
Jonathan Afolabi - Kortrijk
Jonathan Afolabi was absolutely sensational for Bohemians in the League of Ireland in 2023, finishing as the joint-top goalscorer in the Premier Division. He would earn a move to Belgium as a result, where has made six appearances (five off the bench) and scored one goal since the turn of the year.
A bedding-in period is sure to be expected for the striker, although he will be keen to make an immediate mark at his new club.
Afolabi has yet to shine in club football outside of Ireland, struggling at Celtic and during loan spells at a number of lower league Scottish clubs. As a result, the remainder of this season should give a good idea as to where he stands in a new league.
Michael Obafemi - Millwall (on loan from Burnley)
Michael Obafemi's move to Burnley has not worked out up to this point.
He joined a club on the brink of promotion to the Premier League last summer, only to suffer a serious injury last June while playing for Ireland. By the time he returned to action in October, he already seemed to be a forgotten man at Turf Moor.
A loan move was badly needed during the January transfer window, with the striker looking to regain full fitness after his injury issues.
Obafemi has had a very stop-start career up to this point, something that is not really befitting a player of his talents. It will be hoped that he can shine over the coming months and finally get a consistent run of games.
Adam Idah - Celtic (on loan from Norwich City)
Despite being very highly rated at Carrow Road, Adam Idah has never quite managed to fulfil his potential at Norwich City. He has been in and out of the side for a couple of seasons now and was looking in danger of letting his career drift in an unwanted direction.
It will be interesting to see if he can reverse that trend during his loan spell at Celtic. The Cork man looks set to play a big role at Parkhead over the coming months and has already been praised for his performances.
Josh Cullen - Burnley
Having starred for Burnley during their promotion campaign, Josh Cullen has slowly been phased out of the team this season.
After captaining the team during their opening few games, he has since found himself consigned to the substitute's bench. In fact, he has started just one of their last 14 Premier League games, coming off the bench in one other.
Cullen has been an incredibly important player for Ireland over the last couple of years and it has been unfortunate how this season has played out for him.
He will be hoping to play his way back into the team over the coming months. If not, he could be looking at a move elsewhere this summer. At 27-years old, it could be a while before he gets another opportunity in the English top flight.
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