Martin O'Neill has suggested that the coming days will be pivotal for Sean Maguire as he looks to make his first appearance for the Republic of Ireland.
With Ireland's struggles to find the back of the next over the past year, Maguire is someone that has been thrust forward as a beacon of hope due to his impressive performances for Cork City and the manner in which he has taken to Championship football since joining Preston in the summer.
Despite his inclusion in the squad, few expected him to be given any significant chance to show what he can do at such a late stage of the qualification campaign, but Martin O'Neill is considering giving Maguire a run out against either Moldova or Wales.
Speaking to the media at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown [via RTE.ie], O'Neill revealed that he will be keeping a close eye on the new strikers in the lead up to Friday.
I don't see why not.
You talk about risk and reward, I've done it before. I'll have a look, we'll see how the next couple of days go.
Generally speaking, if I know the players pretty well then the couple of days training beforehand is not a major concern. But if I don't and I think there's a possibility of someone playing then the couple of days training becomes pretty important for me in terms of having a look.
That very much sounds like O'Neill and Keane will be focusing on how Maguire and Hogan adapt to the training sessions, and if one or both do well then they have a chance to feature.
From then on it's about taking the chance, and putting in a performance that gets the fans off their seats and forces the manager to pick them again.
Maguire is raring to go, and expressed his delight at being involved in the squad and being able to share breakfast with players he has grown up idolising, such as Shane Long:
I've been dreaming (about playing for Ireland) since I was four or five years of age.
It was pretty surreal coming in. We were having a bite to eat this morning and you see the players you've been looking up to for so long. Shane Long is a player I've idolised from a very young age. He's a player I've looked up to in every way.
It's going to be a good experience. It's something that I'll relish.
We really do hope he gets at least a few minutes against Moldova, if only for the boost it will give the supporters everybody is eager to see how Maguire gets on in the green jersey.
In an ideal world we would have the result wrapped up by the hour mark and Seanie could come on with no pressure and make his mark, but we don't really deal in ideal worlds, do we?
