When the Ireland squad was named this week ahead of the friendly with Poland, most of the headlines focused on Anthony Pilkington’s call up.

The Norwich midfielder’s invite to the Ireland dressing room has been a long time coming after Giovanni Trapattoni stubbornly ignored his merits for months on end.

But three other surprise names also caught the eye and they all happen to play for Derby County…

Jeff Hendrick

The 20-year-old might not be well known to an Irish audience but he has been involved with the Boys in Green’s youth setup from U15s to U21s. The Dubliner was a key man as Ireland’s U19 team reached the semis of the 2011 U19 European Championship.

A midfielder, Hendrick joined Derby County’s academy side in 2007 after moving from Dublin schoolboy side St Kevin’s Boys where he had starred in midfield alongside current Hull and Ireland winger Robbie Brady and West Ham defender Eoin Wearan.

Working his way through the reserve side, he finally broke into the first team on a regular basis in 2011-12, making 44 appearances and scoring three times and was ultimately voted as the club’s Young of Player of the Season. His good form also saw him linked with Premier League clubs.

Hendrick has also been a regular this season, with the exception of a poor run of form in December, netting five times and making two assists in 28 appearances.

The central midfielder is noted for his decision making, fine range of passing and composure on the ball, something sorely lacking in Ireland’s midfield of late.

Connor Sammon

Unlike Hendrick, most seasoned Premier League observers will be familiar with Conor Sammon from his time at Wigan Athletic.

After scoring 17 goals in 65 league games for SPL side Kilmarnock, the Latics paid €700,000 for his services in January 2011.

But in 18 months at the club, he only managed one goal in 32 appearances, with his most famous moment coming when he was harshly sent off for allegedly catching Man United’s Michael Carrick with a stray elbow – a dismissal that was later overturned on appeal.

Summer 2012 saw Sammon make the leap to Derby County in order to resurrect his career and the 26-year-old has been in better form recently, scoring seven times and impressing Derby boss Nigel Clough with his work-rate.

Although his strike rate has not been hugely impressive, he ranks relatively highly on The Championship’s Actim Index – the second tier’s official ranking system – at number 28, highlighting his contribution.

Sammon has provided three assists with 60 per cent of his shots hitting the target.

 

Richard Keogh

Like Sammon, Richard Keogh is also 26. The Derby captain first came through the ranks at Stoke City and has spent time on loan at a number of clubs including Wycombe, Huddersfield and Carlisle.

But it was not until he made a move to struggling Coventry City in June 2010 that Keogh really caught the eye.

While Coventry were sliding towards the third tier, the English-born defender was their one shining light.

Keogh was named Player of the Year in both of his seasons at the club and also managed to play in 91 consecutive games.

With the Sky Blues relegated to League One, Keogh moved to Derby for over €1 million – the Rams’ biggest outlay on a player for three years - where he was immediately made captain by Clough Jr.

Keogh has been an ever-present this season, earning praise for his leadership ability, something which was also apparent when he captained the U-21s between 2005 and 2009.

The centre-back is a commanding presence at the back and will provide more depth in an area of concern for Ireland as a result of Richard Dunne’s injury problems.

 

©INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan

©INPHO/Cathal Noonan

©INPHO/Cathal Noonan