Is Kelleher Republic of Ireland's World Cup 'trump card'?

"We talked earlier astir who will beryllium nan subordinate to return them to nan World Cup? I deliberation he is nan biggest trump card."

Former Liverpool and Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann was afloat of praise for Caoimhin Kelleher aft the Republic of Ireland's 1-1 tie pinch Senegal.

Kelleher's resoluteness was yet surgery successful nan 81st infinitesimal aft making 3 large saves to support nan African broadside retired successful Dublin.

It has been a large week for nan 26-year-old, who near Liverpool to subordinate Brentford for an first £12.5m, which could emergence to £18m pinch add-ons.

According to erstwhile Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given, "in nan existent ambiance he's worthy each azygous penny, if not more".

"No disrespect to Brentford, but I'm amazed location wasn't a fewer much bigger clubs in," Given said connected RTE Sport.

"Unless clubs person gone, 'let's person a look astatine him astatine Brentford. We cognize they are a trading club, let's spot him arsenic a number 1 for a twelvemonth aliases two'.

"At 26 years of property he's still plentifulness young enough. He looks nan existent deal"

Given reflected upon nan goalkeeping business astatine Manchester United and Chelsea, and said "I would person gone successful and sewage him".

He was speaking aft Kelleher made 3 large saves against Senegal. The first came early successful nan 2nd half erstwhile he tipped Krepin Diatta's header onto nan crossbar erstwhile it looked destined for nan backmost of nan net.

It was a prevention Given described arsenic "world class", and Kelleher followed it up pinch different prevention to push nan shot disconnected nan statement aft a large deflection onto nan post, and past nan first extremity pinch his ft to support nan shot retired earlier Ismaila Sarr fired location nan rebound successful Dublin.

"I don't deliberation location is simply a keeper successful nan group who is anyplace adjacent arsenic bully arsenic he is," Hamann said connected RTE erstwhile talking astir nan cardinal domiciled Kelleher could play for nan Irish up of World Cup qualifying successful September.

"I said past year, I deliberation he is 1 of nan apical 5 keepers successful nan Premier League.

"Obviously 1 of those amended than him was playing for nan aforesaid nine [Liverpool's Alisson].

"You'll struggle to find 3 of 4 amended players than him successful nan Premier League and I deliberation he'll show it adjacent season."

Former Newcastle United and Manchester City stopper Given believes Kelleher will person a constituent to beryllium arsenic he heads to Brentford arsenic their first prime goalkeeper aft deputising for Alisson while astatine Anfield.

Kelleher, who joined Liverpool arsenic a 16-year-old, played successful 25 Premier League games since making his debut 5 years ago.

"He would person benefited but he would person missed retired connected truthful galore games arsenic well," Given said connected Kelleher's clip astatine Liverpool.

"He'll not get that backmost now. He'll beryllium quiet to play each azygous week and beryllium successful successful his ain right.

"His patience paid off. He's gone to Brentford pinch a Premier League badge and it's not for illustration he made 1 aliases 2 substitute appearances.

"He played really good and it was successful a portion of nan play erstwhile nan convention was acold from won. There was precocious unit and he tin woody pinch it, he's sewage nan full lot."