Ollie O’Neill has completed a successful loan spell with League of Ireland outfit Derry City and will head back to Fulham in time for pre-season training after linking up with the Republic of Ireland under-21 squad this week.
The intelligent midfielder, who skippered Steve Wigley’s under-21 side last term, scored once in nineteen games with the Candystripes and signed off with a substitute appearance in a scoreless stalemate with Bohemians on Friday evening. The 20 year-old will join Jim Crawford’s squad for three summer international friendlies in Austria before a brief break ahead of reporting for duty at Motspur Park ahead of the new season.
The Ealing-born attacking midfielder is regarded as one of Fulham’s brightest prospects and turned down interest from a number of leading English sides to sign a professional contract with the Whites last summer. Derry boss Ruaidhri Higgins hailed his impact at Brandywell after the frustrating draw with Bohs, which saw the home side denied a clear penalty in stoppage time, and it remains to be seen whether O’Neill will gain further experience of senior football on loan in the coming campaign.
