Two weeks ago, I looked at how five of Ireland’s midfielders performed at club level from a statistical standpoint.
But one name was conspicuous by his absence. Keith Fahey has been out of the picture at club and international level on compassionate leave since November.
During his time away from the game, the ex-St Pat’s man has been training with Shamrock Rovers in a bid to remain match fit.
But there is some good news as Birmingham City boss Lee Clark announced that the Tallaght native was back at St Andrews last week.
Fahey may have started in a three-man midfield against Germany in October’s 6 – 1 drubbing at the Aviva but his return will be a massive boost in an area where there is a lack of depth.
The midfielder who has 16 caps is technically sound and an intelligent and composed passer of the ball.
The last time the 30-year-old played in the Premier League which coincided with relegation for Birmingham under Alex Mceish, Fahey had a reasonable pass completion rate of about 80 per cent which was second only to James McCarthy among Ireland’s central midfielders that season.
Although Giovanni Trapattoni is unlikely to revert to a midfield three, at least Fahey provides an extra option in the event that a 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 is deployed against Sweden and Austria in this month’s crucial World Cup qualifier double-header.
©INPHO/James Crombie
