Martin O’Neill prepared to bide time as Scott Hogan delay’s Ireland decision

Martin O'Neill said he would continue to monitor the progress of Brentford striker Scott Hogan after the player declined an international call-up and insisted, as with Jack Grealish, that the decision was solely one for the player.

Manchester-born Hogan has picked up this season where he left off last, scoring six goals for Championship side Brentford in the first nine league and cup games of the new campaign.

However, he has suggested that, after two long lay-offs with knee injuries, he is anxious to get his club career firmly on track so that he maximises his chances of fulfilling his ambition of playing in the Premier League.

O’Neill said he had spoken to the player’s agent with a view to including him in the squad he announced yesterday for the World Cup qualifier games against Georgia and Moldova and that the impression he got was that Hogan had “a very open mind” on the question.

Ultimately, though, the 24-year-old has preferred to delay his decision.

“I’ve got an opportunity to speak to him,” said O’Neill. “He’s given me his number and I will do so. There’s no point in rushing anything. I certainly do not want that.

“It was exactly the same with the young lad at Aston Villa, Grealish. They make their own minds up but as long as you feel you’ve done what you consider the right thing for this association, to try to bring someone around to do it, that’s all you can do.”

Initial group

Had he accepted the call-up, Hogan would have been the third debutant in O'Neill's preliminary squad, with Conor Hourihane and Danny Rogers both included at senior level for the first time in the initial group of 33.

Hourihane, a 25-year-old midfielder from Bandon, had strengthened his case with a strong start to the season at Barnsley where he has scored three goals in nine games, while 22-year-old New York- born goalkeeper Danny Rogers has apparently caught the eye while playing for Falkirk in the Scottish Championship while on loan from Aberdeen. Both are former under-21 internationals.

Given that Rogers is one of just three goalkeepers named, Rogers looks set to be involved on the match nights. On the other hand, O’Neill suggested that Hourihane was one for the future with his involvement on this occasion likely to be limited to the initial training sessions where the management team will be able to have a more prolonged look at him.

Nice footballer

“I have spoken to him,” O’Neill said of the Corkman.

“He is a very nice footballer. He can definitely play and he seems to have taken more responsibility on the field too. Hopefully, if he continues to improve the way he is going, then at some stage or another he should make the squad.”

Shane Duffy, Kevin Doyle, Stephen Gleeson and Jonny Hayes all return, while James McCarthy is included despite lingering doubts about his fitness. However, Gary Rogers is omitted. Perhaps that's due to the hectic schedule being endured by everyone at Dundalk at the moment; although it might also be down to the recent errors he made against Alkmaar or Shamrock Rovers.

In any event, the former was the reason given by O'Neill for the absence of Daryl Horgan, whose form this season has again been a key factor in the league leaders' success, both home and abroad this season.

“He has done exceptionally well,” said the manager, “and in normal circumstances – and these are definitely not ordinary circumstances – he certainly would have made the preliminary squad.”

GOALKEEPERS: Darren Randolph (West Ham United), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday), Danny Rogers (Falkirk*)

DEFENDERS: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Cyrus Christie, Richard Keogh, Alex Pearce (Derby County) Paul McShane (Reading), John O'Shea (Sunderland), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ciaran Clark (Newcastle United), Marc Wilson (Bournemouth), Stephen Ward (Burnley)

MIDFIELDERS: Aiden McGeady (Preston North End*), James McClean (West Bromwich Albion), Glenn Whelan (Stoke City), James McCarthy (Everton), Jeff Hendrick (Burnley), Stephen Quinn (Reading), David Meyler (Hull City), Conor Hourihane (Barnsley), Harry Arter (Bournemouth), Eunan O'Kane (Leeds United), Stephen Gleeson (Birmingham City), Callum O'Dowda (Bristol City), Robbie Brady, Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City), Anthony Pilkington (Cardiff City), Jonathan Hayes (Aberdeen) FORWARDS: Shane Long (Southampton), Daryl Murphy (Newcastle United), Jonathan Walters (Stoke City), Kevin Doyle (Colorado Rapids)

* Indicates player is currently on loan