Republic of Ireland international Jake O’Brien has said that Caoimhín Kelleher’s imminent move to London will be a good thing for the stopper. O’Brien backs Kelleher to show that he’s one of the best about in the English top-flight in the upcoming season.
The goalkeeper has been given permission by Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrímsson to leave the Irish camp in order to finalise his future.
The Cork native is a keeper reportedly undergoing a medical at Brentford and if it goes well, the Bees will sign him for the bargain price of £18 million.
O’Brien backs Kelleher to ‘push on and do great things’
Everton defender O’Brien is full of confidence in Kelleher and said after Ireland’s training session today:
“It doesn’t take for me to say how good he is,” said O’Brien, speaking at this afternoon’s Ireland press conference in Dublin. “I think everyone knows how good he is and what he’s achieved over the last couple of years.
“If it goes through, it’s a great move for him, to become a number one in the Premier League. I think everyone knows how good he is and how high his ceiling is. He can push on and do great things.
“It’s a difficult one,” added O’Brien, when asked if Kelleher was already one of the best keepers in the division. “Because he is number two at Liverpool, but he’s obviously got a really good keeper ahead of him.
“He’s definitely up there with the keepers in the Premier League. I think next year he’ll show that, that he’s up there with the best. And I think he’s proven that in the games he has played for Liverpool.”
Fellow Corkman knows the importance of being a regular starter and before David Moyes’ return, he struggled for regular game time and was left frustrated. in his early days at Goodison Park.
O’Brien has been in Kelleher’s shoes
“Six months back I was in a different place,” said O’Brien. “I wasn’t where I thought I’d be when I came to Everton. I worked hard every day in training, it happens in football. Sometimes managers favour you and others don’t, a lot can happen in six months.
“I think when he (referring to Moyes) came in, he just knew the club really well and what worked for the club. And I think he just got to know the players really well and what works for the team.
“He didn’t come in and try to change too much all of a sudden. He was very open-minded when you were speaking to him, and I’m grateful that he’s given me a chance.
“Everyone knows that he knows what he is doing and that has shown in the last six months with how we finished strongly in the season.”
O’Brien has grabbed the chance afforded to him. Now it is up to Kelleher to show what he can do once given the number one shirt. Letting him go this easily could be something Liverpool will live to regret.