U23 Players 2021-22

[samhaydenjr]

Calum Kavanagh had an operation right at the beginning of the season, his dad posted about it on instagram

Thanks for the update Tets - I was trying to find info about him on Ye Olde Internete - I'm too old for Instagram!

Anyway, Armstrong Okoflex scored a hat-trick against Man United today (admittedly two of them were penalties) https://www.premierleague.com/match/69869/premier-league-2/2021-22/west-ham-v-man-utd-u23

[tetsujin1979]

Tayo Adaramola had a good night, with a goal and an assist as Palace beat Derby 3-2 - only turns 18 next month. Jake O'Brien captained the Eagles and Eiran Cashin wore the armband for The Rams: https://www.premierleague.com/match/69867/premier-league-2/2021-22/derby-v-crystal-palace

Don't know why, but Calum Kavanagh hasn't been in Middlesbrough's underage squads recently, but he played an hour today against Burnley: https://www.premierleague.com/match/70049/premier-league-2/2021-22/burnley-v-middlesbrough
Highlights of the game between Derby and Palace's U23 sides are here
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Thanks for the update Tets - I was trying to find info about him on Ye Olde Internete - I'm too old for Instagram!

Anyway, Armstrong Okoflex scored a hat-trick against Man United today (admittedly two of them were penalties) https://www.premierleague.com/match/69869/premier-league-2/2021-22/west-ham-v-man-utd-u23
Okoflex's highlights from the game are here
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[liamoo11]

Okoflex has made a good go of things since leaving celtic. Surely has done enough to get a league 1 or 2 loan in Jan

[tommy_c12000]

Any insight into his desire to play for Ireland? I don’t believe he’s been in an Irish shirt for a while?

[JR89]

U19s have had no football for two years because of Covid. Only started having training camps this year which he was part of during the summer. Played for the U19s in qualifiers two years ago and is still underage for the U19s who play their qualifiers next month.

[tommy_c12000]

Good to hear, thanks!

[ColourfulPeanut]

U19s have had no football for two years because of Covid. Only started having training camps this year which he was part of during the summer. Played for the U19s in qualifiers two years ago and is still underage for the U19s who play their qualifiers next month.
Okoflex is born in 2002, the current qualifiers are for 2003 apparently.

His status is a weird one. Played underage for England just after moving over and never really became eligible for them and never will because of his Celtic move. Doesn't seem that keen for the most part but has appeared here and ther.

[tetsujin1979]

U19s have had no football for two years because of Covid. Only started having training camps this year which he was part of during the summer. Played for the U19s in qualifiers two years ago and is still underage for the U19s who play their qualifiers next month.
Incidentally, the first round of qualifiers for the 2022 UEFA Under 19 Championship are in two weeks - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_UEFA_European_Under-19_Championship_qualification#Group_6
Squad should be announced by the end of next week

[ColourfulPeanut]

Okoflex scores again tonight for West Ham U23s. You'd imagine he'd be a definite pick for the 21s on form. I wonder if there's allegiance issues at foot with competitive games?

[JR89]

He's already played competitively at underage level.

[ColourfulPeanut]

He's already played competitively at underage level.
Has he? I only remember him playing a couple of friendlies for the 19s.

[liamoo11]

Has he? I only remember him playing a couple of friendlies for the 19s.

He has played for us competitively at inder 19s. Would like to see him in the 21s squad but to be fair all the players who are in that are playing first team football or at least regulars in first team squads which he isn't yet. Hopefully gets a loan in January. Tge last West ham under 23 player to score as many goals early in a 23s season must be scully

[tetsujin1979]

He has played for us competitively at inder 19s. Would like to see him in the 21s squad but to be fair all the players who are in that are playing first team football or at least regulars in first team squads which he isn't yet. Hopefully gets a loan in January. Tge last West ham under 23 player to score as many goals early in a 23s season must be scully

You sure? I can't only find friendly games that he's played for us at U19 level

<EDIT>

Sorry, he did play for the U19s in 2019
https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/mohan-names-under-19-squad-for-qualifiers-in-austria
https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/ireland-u19-mohans-side-fall-to-defeat-against-switzerland

[JR89]

Has he? I only remember him playing a couple of friendlies for the 19s.

Played in the U19 qualifiers two years ago. We lost to Austria and Switzerland while beating Gibraltar 13-0.

[Olé Olé]

Cieran Dunne has been playing for Sunderland 23s. Was a left sided forward but most recently playing left wing back. Scottish born but was called up to at least one Irish squad.

Started tonight for Sunderland in the EFL Trophy in a 1-0 loss away to Oldham.

[pineapple stu]

How hard is it to spell Ciarán correctly?!

Kieran Sadlier
Keiren Westwood
Kyron Farrell
Kyran Bracken
Kieron Dyer

And now Cieran Dunne? They all deserve a slap IMO.

[Olé Olé]

And I've just realised it was recent underage call up Harry Vaughan that got the game's only goal, for Oldham.

[samhaydenjr]

Anyway, Armstrong Okoflex scored a hat-trick against Man United today (admittedly two of them were penalties) https://www.premierleague.com/match/69869/premier-league-2/2021-22/west-ham-v-man-utd-u23

Deja Vu all over again - Okoflex scored a hat-trick tonight, this time against Crystal Palace and two of them were penalties: https://www.premierleague.com/match/69905/premier-league-2/2021-22/crystal-palace-v-west-ham

Elsewhere, Thomas Cannon scored for Everton against Arsenal: https://www.premierleague.com/match/69906/premier-league-2/2021-22/everton-v-arsenal

Louie Watson credited with an assist for Derby against Chelsea: https://www.premierleague.com/match/69902/premier-league-2/2021-22/derby-v-chelsea

On Friday Tony Springett nabbed a goal and an assist for Norwich against Reading: https://www.premierleague.com/match/70085/premier-league-2/2021-22/norwich-v-reading

[samhaydenjr]

Didn't think there would be any U23 action over the holiday period but there were a few games and there were a couple of braces for Irish underage talent:

Oliver O'Neill scored the winning two goals for Fulham in their 4-2 win over West Brom: https://www.premierleague.com/match/70095/premier-league-2/2021-22/west-brom-v-fulham

Dara Costelloe found the net twice in Burnley's 3-0 win over a Middlesbrough team that featured Calum Kavanagh: https://www.premierleague.com/match/70093/premier-league-2/2021-22/middlesbrough-v-burnley

[liamoo11]

Didn't think there would be any U23 action over the holiday period but there were a few games and there were a couple of braces for Irish underage talent:

Oliver O'Neill scored the winning two goals for Fulham in their 4-2 win over West Brom: https://www.premierleague.com/match/70095/premier-league-2/2021-22/west-brom-v-fulham

Dara Costelloe found the net twice in Burnley's 3-0 win over a Middlesbrough team that featured Calum Kavanagh: https://www.premierleague.com/match/70093/premier-league-2/2021-22/middlesbrough-v-burnley

Thank you. . Costello and cannon are unlucky in been just a few weeks overage for the 19s this season so they haven't been involved internationally since things opened up again.

[samhaydenjr]

Been a while since there was as much to report about Irish U23 players as there was this weekend:

Let's start on Friday - with Evan Ferguson making the jump to the senior squad, Andrew Moran took the chance to impress, getting credit for the assist on Brighton's goal in their 1-1 draw with Arsenal. Matt Everitt made the bench for Albion, while Mazeed Ogungbo captained The Gunners: https://www.premierleague.com/match/69916/premier-league-2/2021-22/albion-v-arsenal

The lads at West Ham may not be quite ready for the big time, but they're still doing well at underage level. Armstrong Okoflex continues to show why he is making senior matchday squads with his eleventh in fourteen games this season; Conor Coventry put his disappointing loan behind him with his second in two games. Mipo Odubeko came on as a second-half sub as West Ham beat Leeds 3-0: https://www.premierleague.com/match/69921/premier-league-2/2021-22/west-ham-v-leeds

How close is Calum Kavanagh to a senior breakthrough? Scored both goals for Middlesbrough U23s, bringing his tally for the season to eight in seven games split between U23s and U18s: https://www.premierleague.com/match/70097/premier-league-2/2021-22/aston-villa-v-middlesbrough
On top of that, he scored a brace in a Premier League Cup Game against QPR last Wednesday: https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/highlights-five-star-u23s-move-top-of-pl-cup-group

Dara Costelloe made it three in two games, scoring Burnley's goal in their 1-1 draw with Birmingham: https://www.premierleague.com/match/70099/premier-league-2/2021-22/burnley-v-birmingham

[Olé Olé]

Kavanagh only turned 18 in September. What a prospect.

[liamoo11]

Kavanagh only turned 18 in September. What a prospect.

https://twitter.com/RepTracker/status/1480858087049342977?t=Kn8uSkKT9Uvf26ihPYLNMw&s=19
his goal yesterday lovely touch in the build up and finish . That rep tracker twitter account is excellent

[tetsujin1979]

it'd be even better if they credited their sources once in a while
That video was taken from Graham Kavanagh's instragram
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CYkNI5XIIgz/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

[liamoo11]

I see there is talk of jordan mceneff joining derry City from Arsenal. That poor lad has been injured for a huge amount of his 4 years at arsenal. Be greatvto see him in the league of ireland and great that he is obviously back fit

[samhaydenjr]

Tom Cannon scored the equaliser for Everton in the U23 Merseyside derby today. The Liverpool goal was scored by a player by the name of Jack Bearne (so close! Maybe discuss him in the Potentially Eligible thread): https://www.premierleague.com/match/69924/premier-league-2/2021-22/liverpool-v-everton

And while we're talking about players who nearly have Irish international names, in the Manchester derby, two of City's goals were scored by McAtee and Bobb! https://www.premierleague.com/match/69923/premier-league-2/2021-22/man-city-v-man-utd-u23

[samhaydenjr]

Kavanagh only turned 18 in September. What a prospect.

Hat-trick for him today, albeit with two pens - https://www.premierleague.com/match/70106/premier-league-2/2021-22/middlesbrough-v-sunderland

[liamoo11]

Mcenneff back on the bench for arsenal 23s tonight first involvement for over a year I'd say

[liamoo11]

Mceneff going to Sherbourne hopefully he can rebuild his career

[samhaydenjr]

Couple of players scored in U23 action tonight:

Oliver O'Neill continued his good run of form with his fourth in six games as Fulham beat Sunderland: https://www.premierleague.com/match/70118/premier-league-2/2021-22/fulham-v-sunderland

And Tony Springett scored his fourth of the season, along with an assist in Norwich's 4-0 hammering of Middlesbrough: https://www.premierleague.com/match/70119/premier-league-2/2021-22/norwich-v-middlesbrough

[elatedscum]

Mceneff going to Sherbourne hopefully he can rebuild his career

He had incredible ability from 16-18, such a wonderfully skilful player. No idea how the injury has impacted his development but you’d hope there’s still a player in there, cause he was in that real top tier of talent…

The 21s have plenty of No.10s. There’s Smallbone, Noss, Tierney, Watson, Grant and Kavanagh - and yet, McEneff is probably the most naturally gifted. Anyway, would be great if he could have a season at Shels like Devoy had with Bohs and use that to springboard his career

[liamoo11]

He had incredible ability from 16-18, such a wonderfully skilful player. No idea how the injury has impacted his development but you’d hope there’s still a player in there, cause he was in that real top tier of talent…

The 21s have plenty of No.10s. There’s Smallbone, Noss, Tierney, Watson, Grant and Kavanagh - and yet, McEneff is probably the most naturally gifted. Anyway, would be great if he could have a season at Shels like Devoy had with Bohs and use that to springboard his career

Yeah absolutely agree. Bit unwhelmed by what duff has been signing at shels but excited hopefully to see him give mcenneff that creative role.

[samhaydenjr]

In recent Premier League Cup action:
Eiran Cashin opened Derby's account in their 3-1 win over Reading. Louis Watson also started, while Cian Kelly Caprani was a late sub. Kian Leavy played for Reading: https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2022/02/reading-under-23s-vs-derby-county-under-23s-premier-league-cup-14th-february-2022

[liamoo11]

In recent Premier League Cup action:
Eiran Cashin opened Derby's account in their 3-1 win over Reading. Louis Watson also started, while Cian Kelly Caprani was a late sub. Kian Leavy played for Reading: https://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/2022/02/reading-under-23s-vs-derby-county-under-23s-premier-league-cup-14th-february-2022

Thanks. Leavy has been injured for a good few months since he was involved with the reading first team early in the season. Good to see him back and on the bench for readings first team during the week

[samhaydenjr]

Tom Cannon is starting to find form after taking a while to get scoring this season, adding a brace for Everton against Derby at the weekend: https://www.premierleague.com/match/69948/premier-league-2/2021-22/derby-v-everton - that's six in seventeen appearances for the season, but all have been in the last eleven games. If he can continue to build, perhaps get a loan next season, he might come into the picture as a striking option within the next couple of years

[tetsujin1979]

Cannon is only just turned 19 as well, born in December 2002, so he's one of the youngest players in the PL2 this session
If he was three days younger he'd still be eligible for the under 19s!

[liamoo11]

Cannon is only just turned 19 as well, born in December 2002, so he's one of the youngest players in the PL2 this session
If he was three days younger he'd still be eligible for the under 19s!

Yeah very unfortunate for him. Given his unfortunate date of birth and covid he really hasn't been involved much with us so hard to have an opinion on him. Is there a sense that he hasn't pushed on in the last 2 years as much as might be expected?

[samhaydenjr]

Yeah very unfortunate for him. Given his unfortunate date of birth and covid he really hasn't been involved much with us so hard to have an opinion on him. Is there a sense that he hasn't pushed on in the last 2 years as much as might be expected?

Nah, I wouldn't say that - sure, he got 16 goals in 15 games in 2019/20 at U18 level, which is stellar, but his 10 in 20 last season is perfectly reasonable, plus he got some time at the U23s, mostly as a late sub and added a couple there. He did take a few months to start scoring this year, which is is first full year at U23s, but he's on a run of six goals in ten league games. If he finishes this season well and hits the ground running next season, then a January loan might be a possibility.

[Olé Olé]

Can't remember ever seeing Michael Harris in an underage squad. He's signing for Colorado Rapids

https://www.derrynow.com/news/derry-sport/754746/former-derry-city-forward-michael-harris-set-for-big-mls-move.html

[CSAD]

Can't remember ever seeing Michael Harris in an underage squad. He's signing for Colorado Rapids

https://www.derrynow.com/news/derry-sport/754746/former-derry-city-forward-michael-harris-set-for-big-mls-move.html

He’s from the North I believe.

[tetsujin1979]

From Convoy in Donegal according to this
https://www.donegallive.ie/news/soccer/754704/exclusive-michael-harris-set-for-big-mls-move.html

[Olé Olé]

Transfermarkt reckons he was born in Letterkenny which isn't too far away from Convoy and would maybe the nearest maternity hospital that side of the border or fairly near anyway: https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/michael-harris/profil/spieler/746571

And his Linkedin states that he went to school in St Columba's College, Stanorlar, Co Donegal which is 10 minutes from Convoy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-harris-89a0791a1

[seanfhear]

Jeez ~ Ye are like the FBI only an FBI that works ! !

[samhaydenjr]

All three goals in the Fulham v Norwich game scored by Irish underage internationals - Oliver O'Neill scored Fulham's goal while Tony Springett got a brace to win it for the Canaries: https://www.premierleague.com/match/70140/premier-league-2/2021-22/fulham-v-norwich

Elsewhere, Okoflex was credited with an assist for West Ham against Chelsea: https://www.premierleague.com/match/69959/premier-league-2/2021-22/chelsea-v-west-ham

[samhaydenjr]

Two more goalscorers to report tonight:

This is very interesting - Joe Hodge came on as a sub in the 87th minute of Wolves' 4-0 win over West Brom and scored one minute into injury time: https://www.premierleague.com/match/70145/premier-league-2/2021-22/west-brom-v-wolves

Meanwhile, Dara Costelloe was put up front for Burnley against Reading and scored: https://www.premierleague.com/match/70143/premier-league-2/2021-22/reading-v-burnley

[elatedscum]

Two more goalscorers to report tonight:

This is very interesting - Joe Hodge came on as a sub in the 87th minute of Wolves' 4-0 win over West Brom and scored one minute into injury time: https://www.premierleague.com/match/70145/premier-league-2/2021-22/west-brom-v-wolves

Meanwhile, Dara Costelloe was put up front for Burnley against Reading and scored: https://www.premierleague.com/match/70143/premier-league-2/2021-22/reading-v-burnley

FYI Lee Harkin was an ireland u16 - he’s often listed as N.irish but he’s only ever played for us

[JR89]

Dara Costelloe has shown some decent form since Burnley have started playing him as a CF the last number of weeks.

[tetsujin1979]

Arsenal played a friendly against Brentford B earlier this week
Mazeed Ogungbo start for Arsenal, Brentford had Alex Gilbert, Nico Jones, Val Adedokun, and Deji Sotona in their side
https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2022/march/match-report-arsenal-4-brentford-b-1/

[tetsujin1979]

Joe Hodge and Lee Harkin starting for Wolves U23 side against Nottingham Forest.
Game is being streamed on YouTube
https://youtu.be/A-fio4uZAIA

[tetsujin1979]

Tony Springett training with the Norwich first team during the international break
1509534730634477569