Dundalk assistant coach Shane Keegan joined Off The Ball to discuss Sam Allardyce's appointment as West Brom manager and what it might mean for Dara O'Shea.
O'Shea was a firm favourite of Slaven Bilic's but Keegan feels that the young Irish defender can keep his place in the team under Allardyce.
"I was talking to someone who had Dara O'Shea at underage level and they described him as a manager’s dream in that he’s like a robot, whatever you programme him to do, he will do," Keegan said.
"I don’t think he has a set style that he has to stick with. I think he’s capable of adapting and he seems to be a very good lad at taking direction on board."
O'Shea's most recent performance against Manchester City could also be a big help.
"He was very good against Man City and I think that might be enough to buy him the first game under Allardyce and then it’s up to himself," Keegan explained.
There is no doubt however that Allardyce will make big changes but that is something that Keegan admires about the former England manager.
"Sam Alllardyce’s autobiography is one of the best football books that I have ever read because I like anybody who tries to do things differently," he said.
"You wouldn’t appreciate it quite as much as when Pep tries something but it’s still doing something different.
"That was Sam's whole DNA. He would say that he hasn’t got as strong an 11 as the opposition so he would do things very differently to them.
"Sam can walk into West Brom and make as many changes as he wants because if anybody questions why, he just has to point at the table.
"He looks at everything, he is a thinker even though it sometimes might not come across that way."
Allardyce's reign will begin with a home game against Aston Villa on Sunday.
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