{"id":23409,"date":"2021-10-08T13:14:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-08T17:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23409"},"modified":"2021-10-09T11:16:28","modified_gmt":"2021-10-09T15:16:28","slug":"kenny-and-egan-defend-callum-robinsons-stance-on-vaccination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23409","title":{"rendered":"Kenny And Egan Defend Callum Robinson’s Stance On Vaccination"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Callum Robinson (PA)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Manager Stephen Kenny and team-mate John Egan have leapt to the defense of \u201cvilified\u201d Republic of Ireland striker Callum Robinson following his admission that he has not been vaccinated against Covid-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 26-year-old West Brom front-man revealed during the build-up to Saturday evening\u2019s World Cup qualifier in Azerbaijan that he has decided for now not to have the jab despite twice contracting the virus, and he has since endured a tide of criticism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kenny, who has been double-vaccinated and has urged his staff and players to follow suit, has nevertheless defended the right of players to choose and stood by Robinson despite seeing his plans repeatedly disrupted by positive tests in the last 12 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said: \u201cWhat I can say about Callum Robinson is that he\u2019s such a popular member of the squad. He\u2019s a breath of fresh air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe always comes in with a smile on his face, he\u2019s infectious, he brings laughter to the dressing room, people love him. He has great qualities as a man, great qualities as a human being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe has attracted a lot of criticism because he just came into a press conference and where the vast majority of players refuse to answer the questions, he was open and transparent and he has been vilified for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut he is a terrific person and I think all of the players would verify that. They really speak so well of him and he\u2019s a very, very popular member of the squad.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sheffield United defender Egan too admitted he did not necessarily agree with his team-mate, but also backed his right to choose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Egan said: \u201cI suppose first and foremost, Cal was asked a question, he gave an answer. He didn\u2019t come out and say he was against the vaccination or anything, so I was quite disappointed to see how many people jumped down his throat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEverybody can choose whether to get the vaccination or not; it\u2019s a personal choice. As a team-mate and as a friend, I back my team-mates, I back my friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean that I believe the same way, it doesn\u2019t mean that everybody is going to believe the same way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The comments came as Kenny revealed that striker Adam Idah and midfielder Jason Knight had been unwell following the squad\u2019s arrival in Baku on Wednesday, but have both returned negative tests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said: \u201cThey\u2019re both fine. We don\u2019t know whether they\u2019re strong enough to play \u2013 we\u2019ll have to see how they train and make decisions after that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIts nothing to be concerned about. They\u2019ve passed all the relevant tests that they need to and in that regard, there\u2019s nothing to be concerned about, so it\u2019s just whether they\u2019re well enough and feel strong enough to play.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ireland will run out in Baku to face a side ranked 117th in the world by FIFA with their qualification hopes already over after their opponents left Dublin last month with a 1-1 draw and Serbia emerged from their trip to the Aviva Stadium with the same result three days later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kenny, who is yet to win a competitive match as Ireland boss in 12 attempts, is expecting another tight encounter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said: \u201cWe know that Serbia came here and had to score a late goal to win the game, and certainly when they played Portugal earlier in the campaign, it was a narrow victory for Portugal, 1-0, so anything we get tomorrow, we\u2019ll have to earn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe do understand that, but we\u2019re ready for that challenge and we\u2019re looking forward to it and we\u2019re determined to try to get that victory that we need.\u201d<\/p>\n

Share this:<\/h3>