Connolly hopes for lucky 13
Ireland striker David Connolly is hoping that 13 will prove to he his lucky number during the World Cup finals.
The Wimbledon ace knows he is not one of manager Mick McCarthy’s first choice strikers - that honour goes to Robbie Keane and Damien Duff - but he is determined to put pressure on the Leeds United and Blackburn Rovers players.
In the hot and humid conditions of Japan, McCarthy will need to use his substitutes wisely, and Connolly sees the fact that he has been handed the number 13 shirt in the Ireland squad as a positive sign.
He said: ‘‘I have got the number 13 shirt which could mean something or it could mean nothing, but in my mind I look at that as a positive and if Mick makes a change then I will come on, which is what happened against Nigeria last week.
‘‘When I have been given a chance I think I have shown that I can either score or help set up something.
‘‘I am there to put pressure on the front two, but they are pretty settled.
‘‘I don’t get that long to show what I can do.
‘‘You can reel off how many caps you have, but in my case half of them are coming on in the second half and I get only a limited period in which to show what I can do.
‘‘Sometimes it is quite tricky coming on and every player would rather start from the beginning, but so be it.
‘‘Until I am a Premier League player banging in the goals I am afraid I am down the pecking order.’’
Connolly - who has 33 caps and eight goals - has one of the best strike rates in the First Division, but he knows he will only be taken more seriously if he is playing in the Premiership.
But with Wimbledon facing financial difficulties like many other Nationwide League clubs following the collapse of ITV Digital, Connolly could earn himself a move to the top flight if he gets a chance in the finals and makes an impression.
‘‘Last season went well for me but until you are in the Premier League things are never quite on level terms,’’ he said.
‘‘When you are playing there your record can be held up against the other players.
‘‘I think Mick would want all his players in the Premier League. That is everybody’s aim, and I am no different.
‘‘Wimbledon are in a predicament and they may need to release players.
‘‘Our fan base is not that high so our turnover from gates is not that high, and our parachute payment from the Premier League has now gone, so finances are a bit restrictive.’’
