The crescendo of headlines and hyperbole surrounding the spectacular rise of Hull City’s Socceroos defender Lucas Herrington is something the teenager can take in his stride, according national teammate and Tigers alumni Jackson Irvine.
Herrington’s fast start to life with the Premier League newcomers has laser focused attention on an 18-year-old with seemingly limitless potential.
Poised and polished in his 27-minute cameo off the bench in last weekend’s shock 2-0 Premier League opening round win over Manchester United, Herrington followed it up with a man of the match performance as the Tigers edged past Stoke City on penalties in the EFL Cup in midweek.
Irvine, who spent three years on Humberside, vice-captained the team and met and married wife Jemilla in the gritty Yorkshire city, is closely watching his national teammate’s evolution.
“I can’t even imagine how difficult it must having the whole (football) world focused on you, but that’s just the nature of what he’s doing and how impressive he’s been,” Irvine told Football360 from his new home in Japan with J1 League Cerezo Osaka.
Jackson Irvine and Lucas Herrington at the World Cup. Photo: Getty Images
“I hope he doesn’t feel all the talk is putting an unfair level of pressure on him because it’s really all coming from a place of love, support and care
“I hope he feels that, especially coming from his Socceroos teammates and in general people who follow and care about Australian football.
“It is a journey (coming from Brisbane Roar to Colorado Rapids and then the EPL in seven months). He might sky rocket and have an incredible season and kick on to levels we’ve never seen before.
“There’s also the realistic level of the massive challenge that’s in front of him. But he’ll embrace it. He’s taken every challenge he’s had in his stride already, so why not this one?
“There’s absolutely no reason why he can’t keep pushing the boundaries.
“He has good experience and ability around him in the Hull team, players like (33 year old defender) John Egan and that will help him a lot.”
Herrington exchanged texts and voice notes with Irvine, seeking his counsel before eschewing offers from a plethora of other clubs to opt for Hull in the massive $32 million move.
“He just wanted to get a feel from me about my time there and a bit of advice, and as a senior player you appreciate that and offer any guidance you can,” added Irvine, who made 112 appearances and scored 10 goals for the club.
“I was happy to hear from him and share a bit of my own experience.
“I love the fact he’s gone there. I know there was a lot of talk about other clubs he had the chance to join but I think it’s a really smart move.
“From my time there, the big thing about Hull is that when the feeling is good and the atmosphere and energy around and the city is high it’s an incredible place to be.”
Irvine arrived at Hull in 2017, after the club had plunged from the Premier League back to the Championship. Happily, the inverse is the case for Herrington.
“It’s nine years later and they’re back. It’s going to be a really special thing for him to be a part of,” he said.
“To have a chance to get good minutes in the best league in the world is an extraordinary opportunity.
“Like I said, it’s the kind of club when the energy is up he’ll absolutely love it there.”
Herrington, chasing more minutes overnight this Saturday against fellow new boys Coventry, will face almost as much scrutiny off the field as on it, contends Irvine.
“Playing in the Premier League is not just about the week to week football challenge. You’re in the public eye at a level that’s pretty intense,” he said.
“Maybe only the World Cup is probably bigger and he’s already experienced a taste of that too.
“But has such a level head on his shoulders and we just want to support him in any way we can.
“You saw how calm he is under pressure at the World Cup – playing 90 minutes against Paraguay and 120 against Egypt and we only conceded once. That’s no mean feat.”