THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND U21 boss Jim Crawford has claimed that Ireland's Aarron Connolly 'is in a happy place now' after his recall to the Ireland U21s
Connolly has failed down a starting spot at Brighton. He was then loaned out to Middlesbrough and Luton in previous years, before making his latest loan move to Italian side Venezia in Seria B this year.
Back in July the Galwegian spoke to Irish Football Fan TV and admitted that choices off the pitch had an impact on his performances.
“It has not gone as well in the last two, three years maybe as I thought it would have gone," said Connolly.
“I started off well. I made some wrong choices off the pitch, on the pitch, and it’s little details like that.
“If you don’t get all that spot on it’s downhill, really from there.
“I got a lot of things wrong. If I could do it differently, I would.
Dublin , Ireland - 11 October 2021; Aaron Connolly during a Republic of Ireland training session (Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)The 22-year-old has fallen in and out of the senior Ireland squad but has now been recalled to the Ireland U21s for the first time since playing in a 3-1 victory over Sweden in October 2019.
Crawford believes that the Ireland youngster is in a better place now he's moved to Italy.
"One thing about him is that he is delighted at the club. He gets on really well with the manager and they train exceptionally hard. He has said that he has never been as fit before in his life," said Crawford.
"They do numerous double sessions, it's the Italian way, but he is happy with it. Going over there was a big decision for him, but he needed to get away from the distractions and what have you.
"He is in a happy place now and a happy footballer is a good footballer. We have him in a nice place coming into the U21s now.
The Republic of Ireland Under-21s will face Israel in the play-offs for a place at the 2023 UEFA European Under-21s Championship.
Ireland will welcome Israel to the Tallaght Stadium on Friday, 23 September. The second leg is scheduled for Bloomfield Stadium, Tel Aviv, Israel on Tuesday, 27 September.
Republic of Ireland senior men's under-21 squad
Goalkeepers: David Harrington (Cork City), Brian Maher (Derry City), Luke McNicholas (Sligo Rovers)
Defenders: Eiran Cashin (Derby County), Festy Ebosele (Udinese), Andy Lyons (Shamrock Rovers), Mark McGuinness (Sheffield Wednesday, on loan from Cardiff City), Jake O'Brien (RWD Molenbeek, on loan from Crystal Palace), Lee O'Connor (Tranmere Rovers), Joe Redmond (St. Patrick's Athletic), Sean Roughan (Lincoln City)
Midfielders: Finn Azaz (Plymouth Argyle, on loan from Aston Villa), Luca Connell (Barnsley), Conor Coventry (West Ham United), Dawson Devoy (MK Dons), Joe Hodge (Wolves), Will Smallbone (Stoke City, on loan from Southampton), Ross Tierney (Motherwell)
Forwards: Aaron Connolly (Venezia, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion), Evan Ferguson (Brighton & Hove Albion), Joshua 'JJ’ Kayode (MK Dons, on loan from Rotherham United), Liam Kerrigan (Como 1907), Ollie O’Neill (Fulham), Mipo Odubeko (Port Vale, on loan from West Ham United), Tyreik Wright (Bradford City, on loan from Aston Villa)
𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗜𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗨𝟮𝟭𝘀 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱 🇮🇪⚽️
🟢 Aaron Connolly back involved with the U21s
🟢 Connell, Ebosele, Redmond and Roughan return to squad
🟢 First 🇮🇪 call-up for Finn Azaz
𝗨𝟮𝟭 𝗙𝗜𝗫𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘𝗦
23/09 | 🇮🇪🆚🇮🇱
27/09 | 🇮🇱🆚🇮🇪#IRLU21 | #COYBIG | #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/XxrDyZHMnf— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) September 15, 2022
