As Brentford team-mates back in the day, John Egan had a front row seat to observe Chiedozie Ogebene’s progress and potential as a youngster.
Four years later as Republic of Ireland colleagues, Egan isn’t at all surprised that his fellow Cork man is going places because of the graft put in behind the scenes.
But centre-back Egan joked how he is glad to be playing in the same side rather than trying to mark the ‘unbelievable’ Rotherham United flyer.
“I'd probably have to foul him as he's a handful for any defender,” laughed the Sheffield United man ahead of tonight’s friendly clash with Lithuania.
“Hopefully he keeps going in the right direction and keeps his confidence up and continues to play really well for us.”
Ogbene is quickly becoming the poster boy of the Stephen Kenny era, and particularly so after his stunning overhead goal against Belgium on Saturday.
Fans are falling in love with a player who has three goals in six caps since the League One and ex-League of Ireland man made his senior breakthrough last summer.
And the Nigerian born star, 24, is showing precisely why Kenny - even before he got the senior job - was pleading with Ogbene to declare for Ireland.
