THE search for a new manager could not have taken a more roundabout route.
But Jason Knight believes Ireland may have to consider going direct if they want to return to the big stage.
Tomorrow, John O’Shea will take charge for a third game of his interim reign, against Hungary, with a fourth in Portugal a week later.
Knight would be happy to see the former captain handed the reins on a permanent basis and knows positive results in this double-header would strengthen his claims.
But, after Stephen Kenny’s possession-based football failed to achieve the desired results, the Bristol City midfielder reckons a more flexible approach may be needed.
Knight said: “We want to be as effective as possible, whether that’s playing or going more direct.
“We want to be winners, ultimately.
“We want to get to tournaments, and win the big games that get us there. It’s game by game, I think.
“We’ve to treat it like that. We’ve got to switch it up.
“We can’t go into every game thinking, ‘This is the way we play’.
“We’ve got to adapt ourselves, we’ve got to treat every game on its own.”
YOUNG VET
Knight benefited more than most from Kenny’s reign, making his debut under him against Bulgaria in November 2020 at the age of 19.
He scored his first — and to date only — international goal against Andorra the following June and, at the age of just 23, he has already accumulated 28 caps.
Knight had previously worked with the ex-Dundalk manager at Under-21 level and he is also now familiar with O’Shea, from his time working alongside Kenny before stepping into the breach following his departure.
And he will be happy if his efforts to help Ireland do well in the next week or so result in the Waterford man being appointed permanently.
He said: “We’ve had pretty good training sessions.
“Everyone is buzzing to be back in and getting around it again.
“It’s a really good mood and everyone is looking forward to the next game against Hungary.
“There is self-pride in there as well.
“You want to win for yourself, for your country and your family.
“Everyone is putting their best foot forward this week and trying to get some good results coming up.
“It’s important that we get the manager sorted sooner rather than later, especially with the games coming up in September.
“But it’s not for me to sort. It’s for those higher up.
“We just have to crack on as normal and do the best we can.
“John and the staff have been great with us and we’ve just got to stick together and get results this week.
“I think it would be great for John to keep it going.
“We’ve done well, the group knows him really well.
“There is a lot of respect for him and the staff.
“It’s not for us to decide but we’ve just got to do the best we can for him and for ourselves, try and win games and put on good performances.”
IRON MAN
Knight has reported for duty following a good first season with Bristol City.
After Derby County failed to make an immediate return to the Championship, he cut his ties with them to team up with the Robins in the second tier.
He featured in all 46 league games, captaining the side on 11 occasions, scoring four goals and assisting another three.
And he said: “It was important for me to start a new challenge and get back to the Championship.
“It’s been a positive first season. I played a lot of games, scored a few goals and got a few assists.
“There is more to come, definitely.
“I know there’s a lot of talk about how many games players are playing at the moment.
“It’s better to be playing games than training.
“As a young lad, I think I’m able for it. I’m enjoying it.
“It’s important that you step outside your comfort zone and challenge yourself.
“That was another reason why I did it.
“”Bristol City is a great club and a perfect fit for me in that moment.”
It helped that international colleagues Mark Sykes and Max O’Leary were already at Ashton Gate.
He added: “I’m really close with Mark, even in the Ireland set-up before I moved to Bristol.
“We’ve been really close mates, and Max O’Leary as well, it’s helpful to have someone you know there to make a difference.”
He added that Adam Murphy has, having overcome initial injury problems, made a good impression since joining from St Pat’s in January.
But the high standards at the club are underlined by the fact that another player, Ross McCrorie, is heading to Euro 2024 with Scotland.
NOT JEALOUS
Knight said: “I’m delighted for him. That’s where we want to be.
“That’s what we’re striving for. It’s difficult because we want to be there. It’s disappointing we’re not but I’ll probably watch it.
“You want to learn. You can’t switch off. You’ve got to learn from everyone you play against.
“We’ve got some great games to test ourselves this week from teams going to the Euros.”
And the ex-Cabinteely schoolboy knows the next week is an opportunity to lay down a marker ahead of the Nations League opener against England in September, for whoever is in charge of the team then.
He said: “Every game you’ve to make sure you get that shirt and that’s what I’ll be trying to do this week in training.
“We’ve got some good games this week and huge games in September, against England.
That’s what I want to be involved in and test myself against the best players. Looking around the squad, there are a lot of young lads. I’m still young myself.
“But even from my first cap, I need to be showing as a leader. I think I can bring that to the group as well.
“We’ve got senior lads, Séamus Coleman, Shane Duffy . . . and Matt Doherty as well. It’s important everyone steps up. We need to be winning games in the big moments.”
And he believes the presence of Sammie Szmodics — who won his first two caps in March — can help Ireland do that after a standout season in which he scored 33 goals for Blackburn Rovers.
Knight said: “He’s been terrific. He’s had a great season, you’ve seen his goals.
He’s been a breath of fresh air since he’s come in, he brings real attacking threat.
“Everyone is looking forward to having him in the squad.”