Soccer

Jeff Hendrick has not played particularly well | Brian Kerr

As Irish international Jeff Henrick has decided to run-down his Burnley contract, Brian Kerr bel...

Joseph Conroy

@JosephConroy

Soccer

Joseph Conroy

@JosephConroy

As Irish international Jeff Henrick has decided to run-down his Burnley contract, Brian Kerr believes a move to Italy could help the Dubliner to progress, if that opportunity arises.

The versatile midfielder has been linked with Italian giants AC Milan and Roma.

"Obviously, Jeff has ambitions to play with a team, maybe he sees himself as being good enough to play with a team who might be in contention higher up the league than Burnley have been.

"Whether that's in the Premier League or Italy as has been suggested," Brian Kerr told OTB.

Chelsea's Jorginho (left) and Burnley's Jeff Hendrick battle for the ball

"They seem to have pounced on players from English teams coming out of contract [...] Jeff Hendrick might come into that category," he added.

The former-Ireland manager cautioned that the player is leaving the club after a period when he believes he has struggled:

"I don't think he's played particularly well for either Burnley or Ireland in recent seasons. I think he's fairly highly thought of in the game, I think he's a very good guy. He's a good professional. He is respected by his teammates.

18 November 2019; Christian Eriksen of Denmark in action against Jeff Hendrick of Republic of Ireland during the UEFA EURO2020 Qualifier match between Republic of Ireland and Denmark at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

"I would imagine that managers and coaches respect him and see him as a steady, honest player who can play in a lot of positions without grumbling about where he plays.

"He contributes to the team very much. So there's a value in that and maybe some of the Italian teams see that."

10 October 2019; Jeff Hendrick during a Republic of Ireland training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

He believes that if there is substance behind the paper talk linking him with a move to Italy, the 54-cap Irish international should embrace the challenge:

"I would think from his personal point of view, yes, if that opportunity is there, he should grasp it and take the education that could go with playing in the Italian league and the learning he could have... And if there's extra money involved in it, good luck to him."

Roma and AC Milan sit 5th and 7th in the Seria A standings.