Irish stars Jeff Hendrick and Jason Knight both scored important goals for their clubs this weekend as the key Euro 2024 qualifier against France gets ever closer.
Hendrick was in action for Reading and scored a late equaliser to secure 2-2 draw against West Brom. A result that leaves the The Royals in 16th place in The Championship, some 11 points clear of the bottom-three. It was his fourth goal of the season and came just weeks after he netted an impressive brace in another 2-2 draw, against QPR. His manager Paul Ince had this to say after his performance, "The second goal was a wonder goal from Jeff. He’s a wonderful player and a proper professional, and for someone who is on loan from Newcastle, he feels like he is part of us."
"A lot of loanees will know they are going back in three months’ time and not want to be part of it. But he wants to be part of the club. And I’m so pleased he has started adding goals to his performances.”
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Jason Knight scored Derby's fifth goal in their 5-0 hammering of lowly Morecambe and with it helped keep their promotion push on track. Derby were relegated from The Championship last season but are plotting an immediate return to the second tier. Knight's goal was his second of the season some six months after his last against Peterborough back in August. Infact it was an exclusively Irish scoring list as ex-international David McGoldrick netted a hat-trick and James Collins got the 4th.
Knight's manager Paul Warne described him as a 'joy to watch' and has praised his impact so far this season,
"His energy and drive in and out of possession is, at times, unplayable. It looks more noticeable the longer the game goes on and that's what he gives. He drives the team on. He's some player, some competitor and it's a joy to watch him in the form he's in at the moment."
Both players have featured extensively in recent Republic of Ireland sides and will be hoping to play important roles in the crucial Euro 2024 qualifier against France on 27th March.
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