ALAN MCLOUGHLIN'S renaissance was acknowledged yesterday after he had been included in the short list of three from which the FAI Opel International Player of the Year, will be named.
He is joined there by Denis Irwin and Shay Given, players at opposite ends of the age spectrum, who will also have solid support when the award is made at a banquet in Dublin on November 10th.
Yet, it is the nomination of McLoughlin, seldom more than a" bit player in Jack Charlton's plans, which illustrates most graphically the revised priorities of the new regime.
After contemplating abandoning his Ireland career as recently as last December, he has since emerged as a key personality in Mick McCarthy's strategy, building on a successful American tour with two good performances in the World Cup games against Liechtenstein and FYR Macedonia.
Irwin, yet to win the award in spite of some exemplary service to Ireland, missed out on the American tour but came back to buttress the new defensive formation in the World Cup assignments.
Oddly, Given's nomination comes just days after he lost his place in the national team to Alan Kelly but in view of his impressive earlier performances, his inclusion in the list is justified.
Given, together with Gary Breen and Keith O'Neill, will also be in contention for the Under 23 award.
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