Scott Hogan To ‘Knuckle Down’ as Last Chance Beckons

In a post-Ireland International interview with RTE, Scott Hogan has expressed his desire to knuckle down, or move on.

Words by Regan Foy | @FindFoy

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In an interview with RTE.ie, Scott Hogan has expressed his struggles across the last season and said that he’s hoping for a quick solution to his Aston Villa future.

The Salford-born forward started his first Ireland International game last night as the Irish side ran out 2-0 winners against Gibraltar, but like Hogan’s International peers, he struggled to find the net.

Mick McCarthy, the Ireland boss, has expressed that he likes Hogan, but that the striker needs to be playing more games.

His lack of form last season under Dean Smith, and the emergence of Tammy Abraham as one of the Sky Bet Championship’s most prolific scorers, saw him carted off to fellow promoted side Sheffield United – where Hogan netted twice but had a meagre impact at the club – often from the bench.

The only run that Hogan has had within the team was under Steve Bruce, where he netted in a few consecutive games before being outcast due to the signing of Lewis Grabban.

Speaking to RTE, Hogan said:

“I have a good relationship with Dean Smith. He has had me before and knows what I’m about. I’ve got to go in and get my head down and try to break into that team.

If I can’t do that, then I have to hold my hands up and look elsewhere. It’s up to the manager and the people above him.

It’s a big club who are probably going to have a real go next year and spend a bit of money, so whatever will be will be.

The important thing is that I get maybe 40 games under my belt, because I’m confident if I get 40 games, I’ll get 25 goals.

I just want a run of games. The only time I had a run of games at Villa, I got goals. I can’t look in the past now. I have to look forward.“

It seems that Scott Hogan is prepared to put the effort in to try and get back into Dean Smith’s plans over the summer, but that he wouldn’t baulk at a move away from Villa Park if it came.