Keith Andrews refused to get drawn into comparisons as goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher continues his impressive first season as Brentford’s number one.
Kelleher joined from Liverpool last summer in a deal worth up to £18million after failing to establish himself in the first team in Merseyside, but has firmly established himself in west London after 30 Premier League appearances so far this campaign.
Former Republic of Ireland International Kenny Cunningham claimed earlier this week Kelleher is a more complete goalkeeper than Arsenal stopper David Raya, but Bees boss Andrews did not get drawn into ranking the goalkeepers.
Andrews said: “I know Kenny pretty well and I like Kenny a lot.
“It’s not for me to comment on where Caoimhín is in terms of pecking order of other goalkeepers, but I think it’s fair to say we’re very happy with Caoimhín and what he’s produced.”
Raya signed for Arsenal permanently last summer from Brentford for £27million after a successful loan spell at the Gunners.
Mark Flekken also departed the Gtech Community Stadium for German side Bayer Leverkusen, with the Irish international coming in as a replacement.
Cunningham told Premier Sports Ireland: “Caoimhin Kelleher, for me, is the better goalkeeper.
“You need to tell me what attribute in his [Raya] game is better than Caoimhin Kelleher in terms of his shot-stopping, his distribution and his ability to command his box.’
The 27-year-old was predominantly the second-choice goalkeeper at Liverpool and Andrews believes he has taken the necessary steps to be first choice.
Andrews said: “We’ve said on numerous occasions that we were very fortunate to get him.
“I think in both parties it just felt right, him coming here for him, the type of environment he would come into. I knew he would flourish here and he’s having a really good season.
“The reality is this is Caoimhín’s first season as a number one goalkeeper. I think within that you would have seen learnings, developments, relationships building with his defenders and his back four, with Manu [Sotelo] the goalkeeping coach and how they work.
“So, you find a way and a rhythm of working differently as a number one as he would have been used to.
“He’s had spells as a number one at Liverpool but obviously he was never the established number one, I think it’s fair to say.”
Photo credit: Dicken Richards
