Latest news with #Azaz
The 42
5 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Ireland's Finn Azaz set to miss three more weeks with quad injury
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND attacking midfielder is a doubt for Middlesbrough's Championship opener at home to Swansea on 9 August as he continues to recover from injury. Azaz has missed his club's two official pre-season friendlies to date and is set to miss the rest of pre-season with the same quad complaint, according to new Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards. 'Finn had a tightness in his quad,' Edwards said following 'Boro's 2-0 friendly defeat away to League One side Bradford. 'It was scanned, and he's probably going to be around three weeks… That's where he's at. 'It's really frustrating because he was looking brilliant in the early days – really motivated and looking really good. He's a naturally fit boy, so we're hoping that we get him back quickly and he doesn't require too much getting up to speed.' Advertisement Azaz was a virtual ever-present for 'Boro last season, scoring 12 goals and providing 11 assists in 45 Championship appearances. The 24-year-old has earned seven international caps and scored one goal for Ireland since his debut against Switzerland in March 2024.
Irish Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Bad news for Heimir Hallgrimsson after fitness update is issued on Ireland star
Ireland star Finn Azaz has emerged as a major doubt ahead of the start of the new Championship campaign. The Middlesbrough attacker is suffering from a quad injury and is currently considered unlikely to make his side's opener against Swansea City next month. Azaz has quickly become a key member of Heimir Hallgrímsson's side, thanks to his impressive displays, most notably in the Nations League play-off against Bulgaria in March. The seven-time capped attacking midfielder scored his first senior international goal in the 2-1 first-leg win in Plovdiv. Hallgrímsson will be hoping for a speedy recovery, ahead of the September World Cup qualification kick-off. Ireland are in action at home to Hungary and away to Armenia on September 6 and 9 respectively. In October, they are away to Portugal and home to Armenia, before the short campaign ends with a home clash against Portugal and a trip to Hungary in November. Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards revealed the news about the injuries to Azaz and George Edmundson on Friday. He said: 'George was a really disappointing one. It was the very first day when he felt his calf. Day one. He'll be a couple more weeks, I would have thought at the moment. 'Finn had a tightness in his quad. It was scanned, and he's probably going to be around three weeks as well. That's where he's at. 'It's really frustrating because he was looking brilliant in the early days – really motivated and looking really good. 'He's a naturally fit boy, so we're hoping that we get him back quickly and he doesn't require too much getting up to speed.' According to Edwards, his desire to see Boro play higher up the pitch has led to some tougher training sessions, increasing the risk of injury. 'From day one, my message has been about intensity, being a bit more aggressive and trying to take the game a bit higher up the pitch,' he said. 'It's hard to say that then not go into training and really do that with the boys. So, I think there would have been a little bit of a lift in the training intensity. 'There's always a slight risk, but I think we have to be pushing the lads.' Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email .
The Irish Sun
25-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Finn Azaz savours trip of a lifetime while hoping he'll have football equivalent with Ireland next summer
FINN AZAZ went for high altitude and Machu Picchu this summer as he aims to scale heights with Ireland next year. Middlesbrough midfielder Azaz, 24, was given this summer off by Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson so he is fresh for the new season. Advertisement 2 His emergence has come as a welcome help to Ireland's midfield issues 2 The spectacular view at Machu Picchu that greeted him and his friends Credit: Getty And Azaz undertook a trip of a lifetime with pals to South America, with the hope he has another one at the North American World Cup with Ireland next year. Azaz said: 'I went on a little travel with my friends. I went to Machu Picchu which was amazing. 'We like to get to places where most footballers probably wouldn't go. 'We actually went to Rio, Peru — Machu Picchu — and Colombia.' Advertisement Read More On Irish Football He travelled after speaking to Hallgrimsson who decided to give most of his players at Championship clubs the summer off. The English second tier ended at the start of May and Hallgrimsson departed from the norm by not asking many of those to play in June after a month of inactivity. But he told them it was so they were fresh for the start of the World Cup qualification camp in September and having no summer off next year. Azaz added: 'Not many managers would have considered that in terms of that kind of longer-term thinking which I appreciated. I had a few niggles as well. Advertisement Most read in Football 'I agreed the main focus had to be on September. 'It's going to be a huge six months but I'm ready for the challenge now.' Alex Iwobi tells SunSport about having Jay-Jay Okocha as uncle, who wins Premier League Royal Rumble and work of his charity Project 17
The Irish Sun
25-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Ireland star Finn Azaz ‘wants to play at highest level' with World Cup in mind amid transfer links with Premier League
FINN AZAZ knows the further he goes at club level, the further he will go with Ireland. The star turns from the Advertisement 2 Finn Azaz addressed links with the Premier League Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile 2 He scored 12 goals and provided 11 assists for Middlesbrough in the Championship Credit: Getty Images - Getty That was in keeping with the form he showed for Boro that saw him score 12 goals and provide 11 assists in 45 Azaz's performances have made him a wanted man. Under contract at Boro — who yesterday appointed Advertisement Read More on Ireland MNT But he also admitted that he has ambitions to play in a top league, and it does not need to be said that playing at a higher level would advance his Azaz said: 'I'm playing at a high level now. The Championship is a really competitive league and it's a really good league. I think it's ranked sixth or seventh in Europe . 'I've got a contract with Boro of course, my focus is on pre-season at the moment. 'I'm really happy at my club. I've had a great year. I've got a lot of respect for everyone at the club and it's been amazing for me the last 18 months here. I had a great season personally so obviously I want to keep developing and my ambition is to play at the highest level. Advertisement Most read in Football 'Whether that be the 'I'm fully aware that there's a lot of Premier League players in the Irish team and I'm looking at the qualifiers and the World Cup next summer . Heimir Hallgrimsson surprised with birthday gift from Ireland fans during warm-ups for Luxembourg friendly 'I'm fully aware that you want to be playing against the best players week in, week out, to be in the best position possible for the 'In international football , the physicality of the opposition is sharper, it's better. There are higher quality players. Advertisement 'Look at 'People are sharper in the mind, quality is higher. 'It's a massive step up but I want to be playing at the highest level and I've got to prove myself at the highest level to show that I can play at that highest level. 'I felt confident and I felt comfortable in terms of level I'm at. I am still having to prove myself at international level. I feel like I have now. Advertisement 'But I'm not going to sit here and say that I've nailed down that position which I don't think is the case. But I always believed in myself and the target was to be a starter in that team and be one of the main players in terms of going forward and creating things. That's been my target for the last two or three years to be in that position, I believe that I could do it. 'And that's still the aim to become that player and to be starting in that position every game.' HOME AWAY FROM HOME Azaz, 24, has looked at home on the international stage in his seven caps to date, and could easily fit into a continental side with what he terms 'comfortable' French and Spanish. Indeed, he acted as Spanish translator for his pals on his recent holiday in South America that included visiting Machu Picchu, while he still alternates monthly between swotting up on the two languages. Advertisement The former 'I wasn't looking at like, 'I want to play abroad', but I was just like, these are great skills to have and a lot of people are really jealous of it now, to be honest. 'In terms of moving abroad, all I'd say is that I'm happy now, but I'd be comfortable if the right opportunity arose. 'I'll be fully focused on pre-season. I'm not going to give a lot of my energy to things that are out of my control.' Advertisement
The Irish Sun
27-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Two more Prem clubs join Crystal Palace in race to sign Ireland star after impressing in Championship
BOURNEMOUTH and Leeds United have joined Crystal Palace in the race to sign Ireland midfielder Finn Azaz. Middlesbrough playmaker Azaz, 24, has 23 goals and 21 assists in the Championship over the past two seasons that has put him high on top flight clubs shopping lists. Advertisement 2 The playmaker was arguably Ireland's best player in the March window 2 The FA Cup winners aren't the only Premier League club keeping tabs on him Credit: Getty And it is understood that Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth and Leeds United, who won promotion this season, are also keen on his services. Azaz has two years to run on his Middlesbrough contract and But Boro may have difficulty turning down offers for a player they signed for £4 million just 18 months ago from Aston Villa, after he impressed on loan with Plymouth. Advertisement Read More On Irish Football A potential move to the top flight would also be a boost for Ireland boss He has been rested for next month's friendlies against Senegal and Luxembourg as the Championship season finished a month ago, but will be back for the World Cup qualifiers. Shamrock Rovers snap up Northern Ireland Under-21s goal-getter as Stephen Bradley gives exciting verdict
