Patrick Hoban's record-breaking goal on Friday night did not go unnoticed in the Republic of Ireland camp.
Ireland manager Mick McCarthy revealed that he will be keeping a keen eye on Hoban in the coming weeks after a glowing report from Robbie Keane, who was in attendance at Oriel Park to watch Hoban's Dundalk beat Shamrock Rovers 2-1.
Hoban opened the scoring with a header five minutes before half-time and it was that goal that secured his status as the Lilywhites' all-time leading goalscorer in the league.
In his scouting column on the
FAI website, McCarthy lauded the up-and-coming talent that's at his disposal after sending Keane to Oriel Park to watch Hoban and Terry Connor to the Pirelli Stadium to keep tabs on Luton's James Collins.
"James keeps on scoring which is great and I know Patrick set a new record for Dundalk on Friday and we’ll be keeping an eye on him in the coming weeks," said McCarthy.
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"Josh Cullen scored for Charlton against Gillingham and Ronan Curtis continued his comeback for Portsmouth with 66-minutes against Sunderland. They should both be involved in the play-offs so we may have to go to Portugal without them. We’ll have a better idea of who’s available for the training camp next weekend but it’s been a pleasing week all round."
Shane Long was also singled out for particular praise by McCarthy after an incredible month in front of goal.
Southampton's Long scored four goals in April, breaking a record of his own earlier this week when he scored the fastest goal in Premier League history with his seven-second opener against Watford on Tuesday night.
"The Ireland fans used to sing that Shane Long was on fire, well he is now so they can get the song ready again," McCarthy added.
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"I am delighted to see him scoring but just as happy that Shane is back in the Southampton team and playing on a regular basis. It’s his fitness as much as his goalscoring that pleases me because I know he was frustrated when that injury forced him to return home after just a couple of days with us in March.
"I’m not a manager who rates a striker purely on goalscoring. I played Freddie Sears for a long stretch at Ipswich with only a handful of goals but Freddie caused havoc for the opposition defence every time he played.
"Shane is a really effective centre-forward. These goals will just give him a real lift and boost his confidence coming back into our squad and that can only be good news with the training camp in Portugal and two big games on the horizon."
