3 days ago
Josh Honohan: Versatility is definitely a strength of mine
Presuming John O'Shea is delegated defensive duties within the Irish coaching ticket would be dangerous with Heimir Hallgrímsson around.
The Icelander's soundbites resonate with the last non-Irishman to take the reins, Giovanni Trapattoni, for the priority he places on fundamentals.
Josh Honohan's promotion to the squad tallies with that outlook, the Corkman considered one of the best League of Ireland defenders in recent years.
Sunday's introductory session at Abbotstown was a leisurely workout before the real work began on Monday.
First things first for the Ireland boss was assembling his defenders away from the main group to engage in shadow drills without the ball.
'It's still fresh to me but you can see why he's been successful as an international manager,' said Honohan, referring to Hallgrímsson's track record with his homeland and Jamaica.
'He's shown me clips of the way we play and little principles we have. He wants us to be a well-drilled team with good shape - and you can see he is a top manager.'
Honohan has two friendlies – at home to Senegal on Friday and away to Luxembourg next Tuesday – to make his debut and push for inclusion in the squad for the World Cup qualifiers.
Silverware has eluded him since he left Cork City to join Shamrock Rovers chasing their fifth successive title at the start of last season. Shelbourne denied the Hoops that unprecedented sequence but his call-up to the Irish fold was based primarily on how he fared on the European run that included a trip to eventual Conference League champions Chelsea.
While Colin Healy praised Honohan's lightning pace at City and Stephen Bradley talked up his ability to operate with either foot, he didn't always mark himself out as a future Ireland defender.
'I never went to the UK as a teen but never saw it as a negative,' said the 24-year-old, recalling several of his peers receiving invites from interested clubs.
'I played with Carrigaline United until I was 16. I was lucky I had great coaching down there and then I went to Cork City, the academy there, had brilliant managers there and I think that is definitely something that helped me.
'Coming to Shamrock Rovers last year, with the standards they set, the manager, and the rest of the staff there, has improved me.
'You always have confidence in your own ability because if you don't then nobody is going to have confidence in you.
'I think in the modern game you must be versatile, comfortable playing in different positions. And, having done that in the last couple of years, I definitely think it's a strength of mine.'
