It will be ten years this coming summer since Wolverhampton Wanderers fans took their first sight of Robbie Keane. But, a decade on, they could be ready to fall in love with another couple of Dubliners.
The early indications are that Andy Keogh, Wolves' latest signing from Scunthorpe United, and Stephen Ward, signed from Bohemians last month, could prove a useful double act.
Keogh, unlucky not to score on his debut at Norwich last Tuesday night, set up Ward for his first goal in Saturday's 2-2 home draw with Plymouth Argyle. And it is no surprise that they have dovetailed so quickly, given the rapport they had playing for the Republic of Ireland Under-21 team.
"I played with Stephen in the Under-21s," said Keogh, "and we have a good goals to games ratio together. We work quite well as a pair, we have seven or eight goals between us in four or five games playing for Ireland. And it’s something I’m hoping to get working again."
Having a former Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy, still much admired and vastly respected over in the Emerald Isle, will certainly be a help in that respect. And Keogh admits that working with McCarthy was one of the reasons he came.
"The manager definitely has an influence on your decision to join a club," said Keogh. "You don’t want to go to a club where you think the manager is an idiot.
"You want to go to a club with a manager who is honest, who is building a good team, and who will do right by you. I admired him for what he did with Ireland, and also what he did with Sunderland.
"He worked some magic there as well and his presence here meant a lot.
"He is a great man and his time with the Irish team made a big impression on me."
It's an attitude of mind shared by Ward.
"Everyone still takes an interest in Mick at home," he said. "Anyone who managed the Irish team is idolized over here and he's still very well respected.
"Obviously there's interest in the Premiership but the two Championship sides they take interest in are Wolves and Sunderland."
The key to being a success in any McCarthy side, though, is being able to play well and work hard for it. And the Wolves boss is so far delighted.
"It was their first game together so not everything is going to go to plan but I thought they showed real potential on Saturday," said McCarthy. "As a pairing, they held the ball up well and set up chances.
"I brought each one in on their own merits but you are always looking for a partnership that works and I could see from day one in training they had an understanding.
"Both worked hard against Plymouth and complemented each other. And Andy showed he had the vision to pass to Stephen who was in a position to score."
