Everything you need to know about Ireland newbies Cyrus Christie and David McGoldrick
Cyrus Christie of Derby County battles with Nahki Wells of Huddersfield Town during the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and Huddersfield Town at iPro Stadium on November 4, 2014 in Derby, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Republic manager Martin O'Neill has included Derby defender Cyrus Christie and Ipswich striker David McGoldrick after their eligibility documentation was finalised last week for this week's game with Scotland.
Here's what you need to now about the Championship duo:
Name: Cyrus Christie
Club: Derby County
Age: 22 (Born September 30, 1992)
Weight: 12st 4lb (78kg)
Height: 6ft 2in (1.88m)
The right-back has made 18 appearances for Derby County since his summer move from Coventry City and has already become a fans favourite for his attacking displays.
Delighted to have been called up for @FAIreland looking forward to what should be a great experience
— CyrusChristie21 (@cyruschristie) November 10, 2014He joined the Coventry academy setup at eight years of age and left the club in the summer having made his debut as a 17-year-old in August 2010, making 116 appearances.
He was brought to the Rams to replace Andre Wisdom who was on loan at County last season.
His availability is a big plus for Martin O'Neill who has become reliant on David Meyler to provide right-back cover as Seamus Coleman battled through his injury woes.
He qualifiies to play for Ireland through his Dublin-born grandmother.
He has been central to Derby's promotion push and they currently sit on top of the Championship table having convincingly beaten Wolves 5-0 at the weekend.
'McGoldrick is different. He's a class act, he can keep possession all day and he does it brilliantly. When he's through on goal, he can shoot with both feet'. Photo credit: Tony Marshall/Getty Images
Getty Images
Name: David McGoldrick
Club: Ipswich Town
Age: 26 (Born November 29, 1987)
Weight: 11st 9lb (73.92kg)
Height: 6ft (1.83m)
In 2014, McGoldrick – who is adopted – discovered that he was eligible to play for Ireland after researching his family tree and finding his birth grandmother was born in Ireland.
He turned down an approach from Gordon Strachan to play for Scotland.
The striker has five championship goals to his credit this season, five fewer than Ireland and Ipswich team mate Daryl Murphy.
McGoldrick began his football career as a trainee with Notts County and made his senior debut in 2004.
He was signed by Southampton a year later for an undisclosed fee but his first team opportunities were scarce and he was loaned out to Notts county, Bournemouth and Port Vale before being sold to Nottingham Forest in £1m in 2009.
He joined Sheffield Wednesday on loan in September 2011, and was loaned out to Coventry City in August 2012. After a successful spell at Coventry he was then loaned to Ipswich Town during the 2013 January transfer window with a view to a permanent deal in the summer.
He has formed a very strong partnership with Daryl Murphy with the Tractor Boys.
He was also the subject of a £5m bid from Leicester City during the summer but Ipswich wanted £8m and the deal fell through.
Ireland squad for Scotland clash
Goalkeepers: David Forde, Shay Given, Rob Elliot, Darren Randolph
Defenders: Richard Keogh, Seamus Coleman, Cyrus Christie, John O’Shea, Alex Pearce, Stephen Ward, Ciaran Clark.
Midfielders: James McCarthy, Jeff Hendrick, Darron Gibson, Aiden McGeady, Anthony Pilkington, James McClean, Robbie Brady, Stephen Quinn, David Meyler
Forwards: Robbie Keane, Shane Long, Daryl Murphy, David McGoldrick, Jon Walters, Kevin Doyle, Anthony Stokes
Online Editors
