Ireland boss explains how Lee Bowyer 'demands' transformed Birmingham City star

The physical demands that Lee Bowyer has placed on his Birmingham City players this season has had a huge effect on Scott Hogan's conditioning and performance.

That's according to Republic of Ireland boss Stephen Kenny, who selected the striker in his 23-man squad ahead of this weekend's clash with Belgium in Dublin. The game kicks off at 5pm on Saturday at Lansdowne Road.

Kenny believes that a change in tactical approach from Bowyer has seen him get the best out of the 29-year-old, who has scored ten goals for Blues this term. That is the most he has managed in a single Championship campaign since netting 14 for Brentford in 2016/17.

Hogan's recent injury problems very nearly saw him miss out on this squad, but Kenny is glad to have him because he, as a true number nine, offers something different to the other attackers in his squad. The Ireland manager also revealed that they have kept an eye on the Birmingham forward more than virtually any other Irish international during his tenure.

"Recently, he’s been injured and missed four weeks. I wasn’t sure whether he would make it to be considered," Kenny revealed to the media, via David Sneyd, ahead of the friendly matchup.

"He’s had good form before that. We’ve probably got more reports on Scott than anyone over the last couple of years.

"Since Lee Bowyer has come in, Birmingham are playing differently. First of all, they play differently now. When they were playing last year he was playing in a low press and block, trying to counter-attack and he sometimes got minimal touches in games.

"I think that he's in physically much better condition this season. They are playing a high press and the demands of how Lee Bowyer has set them up means that they have been to be