MATT HEALY admitted that it is nights like tonight that enticed him home with Shamrock Rovers.
The former Ireland Under-21 midfielder was a close-season signing from Belgian second division outfit Francs Borains and made his debut in last week’s win over Molde.
And the Cork man, 22, says that the chance to play in the later stages of the Conference League was one of the selling points for Stephen Bradley’s Hoops.
The ex-Cork City loanee said: “I was looking for a move. I got a call from the gaffer and it was something I considered right away.
“Playing European football is a dream for any player. I had to give it serious consideration.
“I know I wasn’t there for the first European games. We’re well capable of playing further rounds. So big incentive, yes.”
The Hoops go into tonight with a 1-0 first-leg lead and know a win will earn a last-16 date with Cercle Brugge or Legia Warsaw.
It would also add an extra €800,00 to the €6.4million European prize fund. But Healy insisted that the Hoops must play as if the tie is scoreless.
He said: “The approach is the same as every other game. We need to win the game to get through the tie. So that will be the game plan, to win the game.”
Healy revealed that a glowing reference from Rovers defender and fellow Leesider Josh Honohan also persuaded him to join. And boss Bradley predicted that Healy can be a star player in Tallaght and go on to play at the top level, having been impressed with his desire to face Bohemians on Sunday after playing 88 minutes in last week’s first leg in Norway.
He said: “He can be the next Matt Healy. He is not Josh. He is a different type. He has a really high ceiling. His level of football IQ for someone so young is really high. He covered a lot of ground in Molde, 12 to 13 kilometres, which is extremely high and he still wanted to play on Sunday.
“His passing ability is up there with the best we’ve had and he scores goals. He is a bit of a throwback, he can go box to box, bit of a No 6, bit of a No 8.
“There is so much more about him, physically and mentally. We are very lucky to have him here.”
