‘We’re a Christian family so we prayed and gave a lot of thanks to God’
James Abankwah of Watford in action during their match against Stoke at bet365 Stadium on March 1st. Photograph: Barrington Coombs/PA Wire
With Celtic’s Liam Scales suspended for the Nations League relegation play-off first leg against Bulgaria in Plovdiv on Thursday, Watford’s James Abankwah and QPR’s Jimmy Dunne have captured Heimir Hallgrímsson’s attention to edge past old reliables such as Shane Duffy and John Egan in the pecking order.
Other names were visible on Hallgrímsson’s depth chart when the Ireland coach recently showed reporters the database he has compiled since being appointed last summer. Brighton’s Eiran Cashin, the injured Luke McNally, Bosun Lawal at Stoke City, Josh Honohan at Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick’s Athletic skipper Joe Redmond are all being monitored.
In the meantime, the FAI appears to have removed any chance of Abankwah declaring for Ghana or Northern Ireland’s interest in Dunne. After helping St Pat’s win the 2021 FAI Cup, he signed for Udinese around the same time as Ireland winger Festy Ebosele. When the pair struggled to break into Serie A, they were loaned to Watford as both clubs are owned by the Posso family. Abankwah also had an unsuccessful four-month spell at Charlton Athletic in 2023.
“Playing in the Championship is a lot more hectic and physical. The game speed is a lot quicker so it takes a bit to get used to that. I think I adjusted quite well. In Serie A, it’s a lot more tactical. I just love having the ball at my feet.”
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