‘You've got to be ruthless' – Stephen Bradley has crucial advice for Shamrock Rovers star Michael Noonan

The Irish Sun

4 days ago

STEPHEN Bradley has urged Michael Noonan to be ruthless in front of goal.
Noonan became the
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Noonan has scored six goals from 10 starts in the league this season
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Bradley hopes to lead Rovers back to the Conference League league phase for the second year in a row
On his 17th birthday on Thursday, the striker had a good chance to add to his European tally - and might have had a penalty - as
And he has told him to follow the example of Johnny Kenny who bagged seven European goals for Rovers during a loan spell last season and has since broken into the first-team picture at
Bradley said: 'That's a part of his development and learning that European nights are special and when the opportunities come, you've got to be ruthless and take them.
'You can see the level was down in the game, obviously. And when it's like that, you need to go and grab it and make it.
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'Johnny scores, I can't think how many in Europe last year because when we were here, he was ruthless, he just went for teams.
'I know there's a few years in the difference, but that's where a little bit will help Michael develop and understand that every time he crosses the white line it's a chance to go and score goals.
'He's 17, I'm being a tad bit harsh on him. But that's the level that he plays at, you have to really push him and push him. And that's what he wants, to be fair, speaking to him there.
'But we were just off it, all of us, obviously. It's a nice little bit of learning for him there in terms of understanding that in games like this, to be ruthless, leave the pitch with one or two goals.'
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The Derry game could have been called off with the Hoops' European game taking place on Tuesday instead had a second Kosovan club, Prishtina, progressed but they were beaten by Larne on a penalty shootout.
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And Bradley is happy to be kept busy. He said: 'I like when we play regular games, I think it's when we are at our best and our sharpest.
"So, it's good to be playing Derry and then going into a European game. I'm looking forward to it and we are well used to it, so I'm looking forward to it.'
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On Derry, he said: 'Up until Sligo they've been very good in terms of picking up points. They've obviously invested really heavily in their squad, which is clear to see.
'And it's what we want in the league, we want competition, we want good squads and teams. But with that comes expectation.
'So, they will come here, I've no doubt on Sunday, and will look to win the game. We've got to be ready for that. And we will be. We've got to expect the best Derry that they have. And we've got to make sure we match that.'
On Ballkani,who beat Floriana 4-2 at home before drawing 1-1 in Malta, he said: 'In the first leg, they were good, they won quite comfortably, they got caught out with a silly goal early on, but after that they were very good.
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'They scored four and it could have been more. They fully deserved to go through. I didn't have any doubts about the second game. They were good, had good threats. The left-winger is a really good player, he's a handful. Both wingers are good. So that will be a tough tie.'
Bradley reckons they remind him of NK Celje, a side Rovers beat last year before the Slovenes went on to narrowly lose to Fiorentina in the quarter-finals of the Conference League.
He said: 'Maybe they have flashes of Celje about them, that type of really technical players. And then on the sides they've got real pace and directness.
'Celje would probably be the ones that you would say. And obviously they've gone on to be really good. It will be a tough tie, but we're well used to it.'
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