MICHAEL Laudrup has hailed the pre-season impact of Rory Donnelly â but insists Swansea City still need another frontline striker. Donnelly has struck six times in five friendly appearances this summer after being thrust into the first-team frame. With Luke Moore and Leroy Lita told they are surplus to requirements before Swansea jetted off to Holland, and record signing Wilfried Bony only arriving halfway through the tour, Donnelly travelled as Swansea's only specialist striker. And he rose to the challenge with a glut of goals, including a nine-minute hat-trick against Excelsior Maassluis. The Northern Irishman also struck in Friday's victory over Yeovil and again in another win at Exeter on Sunday. Donnelly moved to the Liberty Stadium from Cliftonville 18months ago after lighting up the Northern Irish Premiership as a teenager. The 21-year-old featured regularly for Kristian O'Leary's development side last season and made his only senior appearance as a second-half substitute in the 3-2 Capital one Cup win over Crawley. "He's done well because in that position we haven't had many players," said Laudrup. "Bony is still in Holland and we only have Michu for that position. That's why I took Rory to Holland. "He did well there and he has been involved again because Bony is still away. "He took his chance well again, it was a fantastic finish the other day against Yeovil so it's good to see." "We'll still need another striker but it's good to know that Rory is moving forward, both for the future and a little bit for the present as well," added the Dane. - EP Looks like we'll be seeing some more of Donnelly this season, I must say, I thought that Donnely's goal against Yeovil was top draw, and Laudrup has obviously been impressed with the boy too, so here's to another Striker on the Radar, and Donnelly coming through with flying colours!....................
Northern Ireland could have used him... another player willing to enjoy the youth set up then piss off. Hope he fails, sorry.
Yea, he needs to the competitive games to learn, why not use him regularly for the cup games. Pozuelo, muchu, Dyer, Hernandez can all play up front.
I don't understand. Surely it's good for Northern Ireland to have a young striker at a Premiership club who is being nurtured and slowly introduced to 1st team football. In a year or 2 you'll have a young striker (22/23 years old) with some good Prem experience, maybe even some Europa. How would Northern Ireland have benefited from him staying?
I liked the look of Donnelley in per season but I do think we need another striker! Who I don't know? Would love another surprise like Michu! (unlikely I know)
What a stupid ****ing post, having a player in the top flight of football instead of almost an amateur league is going to have a bigger impact for the national side. You just appear to want players to not move as they progress, perhaps the team you support should bear it in mind when they snap up players just to stop others having them, the same for the other big clubs in the premier league
You all misunderstand. He used the IFA youth teams - NI U21 coaching etc, then told the IFA that he did not want to be considered for selection for NI. Rather like James McClean, who also advocates terrorism. They make use of the system, then leave in hope of selection for the Republic of Ireland.
He's not the first or until the rules are tightened up the last, I can understand why you feel aggrieved , as regards James McClean thats a totally different issue , again he believes what he believes is right for him .
Young Donnelly will certainly be used this season even if its on the bench, He has the talent but not the experience and that will come by including him in the first team, He had to move from NI just like any talented player or how can they make any sort of name for themselves. He also has the right if he has duel nationalities to turn down NI and wait, Plenty of welsh players have turned us down in favour of england and thats their choice, I could not do that myself as i'm a firm believer that you have one choice and that is where you are born, there are exceptional circumstances that don't apply but overall you should not have a choice...
Well I'm hoping the lad get's some game time on Saturday, as I'm looking forward to see him play. I think he will be a BIG plus for us this season.
It is unfortunate that you are right. It's a loophole that needs tightening. Imagine Ewoks playing for the Empire because there's an Imperial shield generator there. I know, laughable. McClean is another issue entirely due to his tweets, if you're familiar. He is an example of the type of person holding NI back. Yes, the league is very poor. Linfield are currently in extra time in the arse end of nowhere and a Liverpool XI of reserve U21s beat Glentoran yesterday. He had to leave. I agree you shouldn't have a choice unless say you're French and moved to England early on, and have French parent(s), culturally French etc.
Master Yoda please explain yourself more clearly first time round please, then maybe you will not get fired upon by the darkside, may the force be with you sir!............
Thought it too obvious to merit explanation I did. But then again such thought may lead to the dark side... A wise comment maybe young DragonPhilljack.
Take no notice of some of our grumpy farts on here, we lost them to the darkside years ago, especially that Darth Jager!........
