FAI.ie<\/a><\/p>\n\u201cHe linked up well with Danny Ings, he got in behind the Spurs defense and while he didn\u2019t have that many shots himself, he was a constant nuisance for the opposition.<\/p>\n
\u201cMichael did all the things I expected of him very well. We had Southampton watched when they won at Crystal Palace recently and the reports on Michael, Shane and James McCarthy were all very positive.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike all our players, Michael is benefiting from regular first team football and he certainly gave me something to think about on Saturday. I\u2019ll be back to watch him again and to have a look at Shane.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve also kept in regular contact with Shane and I\u2019ve repeatedly told him that his return to form with his club will count for March.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ronan Curtis is another Irish player catching McCarthy\u2019s eye right now after the former Derry City man scored his 12th goal of the season in the Saturday\u2019s 4-3 FA Cup win against Barnsley.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe scored against my hometown club but I won\u2019t hold that against him,\u201d laughed McCarthy. \u201cSeriously Ronan has been in great form of late.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got 12 goals this season and he was the League One Player of the Month for November and December so he is right back in contention for a call-up for the Slovakia game.<\/p>\n
\u201cRonan, like Michael Obafemi and Shane Long, is one of a number of Irish players coming into form right now which is great news at this point in the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said last year that once we got to January the time flew until the qualifiers in March and I expect it will be the same for the play-off. We just need these players to keep fit, keep playing well and keep giving me a headache about the squad selection.\u201d<\/p>\n
Keen to consider all options ahead of the trip to Bratislava, McCarthy has sent assistant Terry Connor to watch Ipswich recently with Will Keane back to full fitness, back in the team and back scoring goals.<\/p>\n
Youngsters Jayson Molumby, Jason Knight, Dara O\u2019Shea and Conor Masterson are also on the Bratislava radar while veteran midfielder Glenn Whelan is back in first team football with Fleetwood Town and Darren Randolph is back in the Premier League with West Ham.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are putting the miles in and I can promise the fans that no stone will be left unturned between now and the end of the March,\u201d continued the Republic boss.<\/p>\n
\u201cWill got his passport sorted last year but he has struggled with injuries until now and we will keep an eye on him at Ipswich. Jayson Molumby is impressing everyone at Millwall while Jason Knight, Conor Masterson and Dara O\u2019Shea are all taking their chance in the Championship at present which is great for us.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not all about the kids though. James McClean is coming into his own under Michael O\u2019Neill at Stoke, Glenn is really enjoying working with Joey Barton at Fleetwood and Darren is back in the Premier League where he belongs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know March is a long way off but there is a real feelgood factor about the players available for the squad now. Long may that continue.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/PA-49237305.jpg\")
First impressions matter \u2013 and Southampton frontman Michael Obafemi made a very good first impression on Mick McCarthy as the countdown continues to Slovakia and the UEFA EURO 2020 Play-Off in March.<\/p>\n