Aaron Connolly sent Brighton and Republic of Ireland warning after completing Venezia loan move

Aaron Connolly's loan switch to Venezia could be a blessing and a curse for his international prospects, according to two former Ireland internationals.

Connolly secured a surprise 12-month loan to the Italian Serie B side from Brighton & Hove Albion last week. Having spent last season on loan with Championship club Middlesbrough, the decision was made to continue his development away from the Amex Stadium for the 2022/23 campaign.

While admitting that getting away from the intensity of the Premier League would be helpful, former Blackburn Rovers and Ireland midfielder Keith Treacy said that he may be forgotten by Ireland boss Stephen Kenny due to not playing in England, especially if he doesn't "stand out" in the division.

"I see two sides to this sword," Treacy told the RTÉ Soccer Podcast. "Going away and getting away from England is great because I played in England and it's very intense. I am speaking from the outside here but it just seems to me that when you come away from the top divisions in Spain, Italy, Germany etc, it seems to be a little less intense. But the Championship, although the quality comes down technically a little bit, the intensity is just the same.

"When you go to restaurants and cities, it's everywhere so Aaron Connolly going away it might be a little bit less stressful for him and bring a little bit of love back into it. There are lovely surroundings over [in Venice] and it might just kickstart a bit of love in him.

"But the one thing for me, I had offers while I was playing to go away to foreign countries and I was always a little bit tentative because it's very easy to be forgotten over there. He could go over there and play seven out of ten most weeks but he'll be forgotten. He needs to go