A ROCCO TO BUILD FOR THE FUTURE UPON...

HEIMIR Hallgrimsson reckons Ireland have a future “match- winner" in Watford forward Rocco Vata.

- MARK Mc CADDEN

Vata, the son of former Celtic and Albania defender Rudi Vata, received his first senior call-up for the two-legged Nations League tie against Bulgaria.

Both he and his clubmate James Abankwah are hoping to make their debuts at this level.

Hallgrímsson is clearly a big fan of the 19-year-old, having watched him play at club level and then briefly on the training pitch ahead of tonight's game.

“The kid has something,” he said. “Like I've said before, he can show up and do something that you look at and go, ‘wow’. That's this kid.

“He can be a match-winner for us in the future.”

Vata isn't the only player to have impressed Hallgrímsson with his club exploits this season.

Finn Azaz has been in sensational form for Middlesbrough, scoring 10 goals so far from midfield.

"I said it to you guys before, the strength of him is finding spaces, finding these gaps, creating chances, scoring goals," said the Boys in Green boss.

"He has been on fire of late for Middlesbrough. So he's in a good place at this moment.