PNE defender in line for Irish call-up during the summer

Preston North End defender Andy Boyle is happy for his season to stretch into the summer break if it means another call-up to the Republic of Ireland squad.
Andy BoyleAndy Boyle
Andy Boyle

Boyle and Daryl Horgan have had an almost non-stop run of football since early 2016 with Dundalk and PNE.

While they are getting a bit of time off at the moment to rest, the pair could well be pulling on their boots again before the end of the month.

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The Republic of Ireland play three games at the start of June.

Boyle and Horgan played a big role in Dundalk winning the League of Ireland in 2016.

Their preparations for the campaign started early that year, the season extended by Dundalk’s involvement in the Europa Cup.

The pair’s last match for Dundalk was at the beginning of December. They started training with North End before Christmas, with them registered to play from January.

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Horgan forced his way into contention immediately but Boyle had to wait longer for his debut.

Boyle told the Post: “I’m having a bit of a break at the moment but how long that is depends on an international call.

“Hopefully the break is just for a couple of weeks and I get in the squad.

“The timings of the football seasons being different in Ireland and England meant there was not much of a break between finishing at Dundalk and coming here.

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“We got a week off before we came to Preston which was nice to have.

“If there is a call-up to the Republic of Ireland squad, there is a training camp in New York and we play Mexico there on June 1.

“It is not the worse place to be but how much we would see of it,I don’t know. There is then a friendly against Uruguay back home and then we have the World Cup qualifier with Austria in Dublin on 
June 11.

“It eats into the summer break but playing for your country is everyone’s dream.

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“There’s time for a break at the moment and then after the games.”

Aiden McGeady, who PNE are trying to bring back after his successful season on loan, is likely to be in the Ireland squad too.

Boyle has enjoyed his first few months in the English game.

He played at Wolves on the final game of the season, his seventh appearance in North End colours.

The 26-year-old said: “I think the move here has gone really well, I’ve settled in well and got used to the training.

“To have played against some big teams and some great stadiums – I was lucky enough to play at St James’ Park a couple of weeks ago – can only benefit me.”