Caoimhín Kelleher returns to Ireland camp after finalising Premier League switch
Caoimhín Kelleher was back on the training pitch with Ireland today after finalising his move from Liverpool to Brentford.
The goalkeeper had permission to skip yesterday's first session of the week ahead of Friday's clash with Senegal as he was completing his medical with the Bees.
Brentford have yet to confirm the transfer but it is imminent and Kelleher is moving for a fee that could rise to €21 million with performance-related add ons.
John O'Shea, the Ireland assistant manager and former Manchester United ace, admits it will be 'fantastic' for the Corkman to be playing regularly as a No 1.
O'Shea said today: 'He trained very well but listen, we've nothing to confirm yet. Obviously it's not for us to confirm anything. But if it does happen, if something happens, fantastic. If it doesn't, we still have a very good goalkeeper on our hands either way.
'It's obviously out there where he might have been or where he might have gone, but we can't confirm anything yet.'
Kelleher won a Premier League medal with Liverpool this season and it can't have been an easy decision to say goodbye to a successful club.
But the Reds backup - who joined Liverpool as a youth in 2015 - had also made no secret of his desire to play first-team football on a regular basis.
O'Shea said: 'Like the manager (Heimir Hallgrimsson) has always stressed, we'd love our players to be playing. It's as simple as that. Caoimhin is obviously at a very good club, has had success, and whatever happens next, hopefully he's playing.
'And we hope the same for all the squad that they get themselves playing as much as possible.'
And O'Shea added: "Caoimhín has proven the quality that he has every time he's been asked to go in as the number one for Liverpool. When he's had a consistent run, they haven't missed Alisson when he has been injured.
"The whole of Europe and the whole of the world has seen that when Caoimhín has been in goal for Liverpool.'
Meanwhile, O'Shea has reported that Ireland have no injury concerns going into Friday's Senegal friendly at Aviva Stadium.
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