Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has suggested Town may have been “overloading” currently injured forward Sammie Szmodics, while revealing he has never spoken to Blues boss Kieran McKenna during his time in charge of the Boys in Green.

Sections of the Irish press and some fans on social media have been critical of Szmodics for pulling out of three of Hallgrimsson’s squads due to injury but on the latter two occasions then playing for Town immediately after that international break.

The 30-year-old underwent ankle surgery in March, then pulled out of the Irish party for June’s internationals having come on as a sub for Town on the final day of the Premier League campaign against West Ham, the club he grew up supporting.

Szmodics played the first of September’s internationals against Hungary but withdrew ahead of the second in Armenia due to swelling on the ankle on which he had had the op.

He then pulled out of Ireland’s October games having had an injection on the same ankle which required him to have nine-to-10 days’ rest.

A fortnight ago, after undergoing surgery on an unrelated knee injury suffered in the West Brom match, Szmodics hit out at “keyboard warriors” sending him and his family “hate messages” in the wake of those withdrawals.

Last week, Hallgrimsson said he had no reason to doubt Szmodics’s dedication to the Irish cause.

And the Icelander believes the online posts were idle speculation, reiterating that he isn’t questioning Szmodics’s commitment, although while appearing to point a finger at Town regarding the forward’s game-time.

“I think people just assume something and it’s easy to put it on social media. I’m not there, I didn’t read the criticism, I get information from Kieran [Crowley, Ireland communications manager] about these things,” Hallgrimsson said.

“But [Szmodics] has always been honest with me about these things. When he didn’t travel to Armenia we sat for a long time and spoke.

“He was sure he couldn’t play, so it was not worth it to take him there, and that’s both talking to the medical team and talking to the player himself.

“The same when he has been carrying injuries and it has been tough for him, and that’s why he isn’t playing on a regular basis for Ipswich.

“They have been playing him and overloading him, maybe, at times, but he has always been honest with me and I believe him 100 per cent when he says he is not fit. He would play for us every time if he would be fit.”

The insinuation is likely to raise eyebrows at Town with Szmodics having only made seven starts and four sub appearances in all competitions for the Blues this season, a total of 579 minutes - plus a further 15 in the abandoned game at Blackburn - with Town having played 15 times overall, 16 including the Ewood Park fixture.

Hallgrimsson, who has been Ireland boss since July 2024 but may not remain in the hotseat for too much longer with World Cup qualification looking highly unlikely, also surprisingly revealed he has never talked with Town boss Kieran McKenna, despite five members of his squad - Dara O’Shea, Jack Taylor, Kasey McAteer and the on-loan Chieo Ogbene in addition to Szmodics - playing their domestic football at Portman Road.

“I don’t think I have spoken directly to Kieran,” Hallgrimsson added. “It’s more complex today than it was in the past. At clubs there are more people involved in decision-making, so you need to go through certain processes. It’s through the medical team first if it’s a question [of fitness]. So that’s always the first discussion.”

O’Shea, Taylor and Ogbene are currently away with Ireland for their final two World Cup qualifiers against Portugal at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Thursday and then in Hungary at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on Sunday.

Photo: Matchday Images

FrimleyBlue added 14:49 - Nov 10 TBF we did keep him on for 10 minutes after he got injured, which probably didn't help his knee.
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MickMillsTash added 14:56 - Nov 10 Embarrassing qualifying campaign by the Irish. Fingers crossed that O'shea does not injure his back picking the ball out of the net over the next 2 games.
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Dissboyitfc added 14:57 - Nov 10 Thought that at the time frimley! However for an international manager to suggest we are over playing him is out of order itfc pay his wages and deal with him on a regular basis so will be more aware of how to manage him! Now stupid pointless friendly international games, they can over load players! Blows a fool!
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tetchris added 15:33 - Nov 10 We have other players who can play in the no 10 role so why would we play someone who isn’t fully fit? I’m sure town medical staff would have assessed Sammy before he played for town. Maybe the Irish manager should think a bit more before he makes comments without foundation?
12

Edmundo added 15:57 - Nov 10 Smacks of a manager firing off a few random salves, before sinking without a trace.
12

Northstandveteran added 16:13 - Nov 10 He's not interested in playing dead rubber games for Ireland is my translation of events. A decision, probably made easier for him by not being Irish.
7

Scuzzer added 16:13 - Nov 10 So he would be willing to 'overload' him even more by playing for his country? Hmmm...
5

budgieplucker added 16:15 - Nov 10 Not that many would believe the Dark Lord but he always suggested the Irish team were a bit Micky Mouseish in their approach and professionalism and full of leprechauns. But then Mick was manager at the time, Tabby excluded of course he was dfferent gravy - eeeeh Tabby he's great is Tabby.
2

johnwarksshorts added 16:48 - Nov 10 Don't think he's been right for a while now. Always gives 100 pecent but isn't really happening for him at the moment. Not a classy coment to suggest we're overloading him.
7

StowTractor added 16:58 - Nov 10 Fully expect this clown to be sacked after this international break is over. Which will no doubt be followed by the Irish & UK media touting K McK as a potential successor.
6

RobITFC added 17:01 - Nov 10 @Frimleyblue- that was because Akpom wasn't ready and had forgotton his socks (apparently)
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Bazza8564 added 17:12 - Nov 10 Our player and his priority is here. We make plenty avalable for ROI, this is nonsense
6

KernowBluey added 17:22 - Nov 10 Completely out of order comments which arn't needed at all! Very desperate imo to say this considering he's the manager of a national team.
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blues1 added 18:37 - Nov 10 RobITFC. What a load of rubbish that is. It was bcse Szmodics, and thd medical staff thought he waa ok, that he carried on.
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armchaircritic59 added 19:05 - Nov 10 And I thought his comments a few days ago were sensible. Blotted his copybook here a bit. He thinks we've overloaded a player who has started just half our league fixtures this season? Heaven only knows what he'd think about the likes of Matusiwa and O'shea. But then he hasn't complained about O'shea being overloaded!
3

bobble added 20:09 - Nov 10 Slow news day,,expect 30 trump stories and some waffle about royals
4

SouperJim added 20:15 - Nov 10 Contradicts himself in the space of two sentences, says Sammy hasn't played regularly for us but then says we're "overloading" him. He can't have it both ways.
6

atty added 20:34 - Nov 10 Utter nonsense. Contradicts himself, and clearly hasn’t checked Sammy’s game time with us.
4

JewellintheTown added 05:51 - Nov 11 How dare Szmodics prioritise his job that pays his wages over a job that pays Hallgrimssons wages.
4

schenkermental added 12:49 - Nov 11 Northstandveteran with his surname should actually be playing for Republic of Ireland's opponents on Sunday.
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terryf added 13:26 - Nov 11 Looking at McKenna's rotation system I doubt Sammy has been overplayed. More likely he has some underlying issues of his own judging by his injury history with us. I find it baffling that both Sammy and Chubba have prolific goal scoring records elsewhere but cannot buy a goal with Town. Bring back Chappers in January I say!!!
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SickParrot added 13:27 - Nov 11 What a plonker. Unfairly insinuates that Kieran is responsible for Sammie's injuries without ever speaking to him. With so many Town players in the Irish squad you would've thought he would want a good relationship with Kieran.
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Mariner1974 added 14:15 - Nov 11 He's overloaded with tattoos, but that can't be pinned on us.
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PortmanTerrorist added 11:30 - Nov 12 Dumb-ass statement from a guys who knows nothing about our Club.....we have begged for players to be pushed to play the whole 90 minutes, or every game in the (incorrectly called) 3 game weeks, but our medical team would never allow it and McKenna is completely bought into that approach. This guy picked the wrong battle. However, suspect this is partly down to being under pressure and partly down to English not being first language. Probably. Not sure what it says about the Irish press dept ?!

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