NIGEL Clough has praised on-loan ‘keeper Kieran O’Hara for his commitment to the club, having left Mick McCarthy's Republic of Ireland squad and returned in time for the Salford City match on Tuesday night.
The Manchester United loanee arrived back in the UK from Dublin with only hours remaining until he was back in the team that faced the Ammies in the First Round replay.
Brewers manager Clough said: “We are very grateful to Mick McCarthy and to Kieran for wanting to come back and play.
“They had had their massive game on Monday night where they were so close to beating Denmark, and then he flies back the next morning and he is ready to play for us.
“Then he is excited to play and wanting to go.”
Apart from one good save made in the opening minutes on Tuesday night, O’Hara had very little else to do, but his presence in the Burton Albion goal did not go unnoticed.
“He didn’t have a lot to do but his assurance and his presence when he is in there is growing week-by-week,” said Clough.
“This is his first season at this level. It was an incredible season he had at Macclesfield, the way he was instrumental in them staying in League Two.
“He has stepped up now to League One and this is his first experience of it. He is the sort of lad that strikes you that as each challenge comes along - the next level and then the next level - he takes it all in his stride.
“He’ll embrace it and really look forward to it, and I think that is the way his career is going to go over the next ten years or so.”