Keith Andrews Faces John Egan in Hull Showdown

Keith Andrews heads back into familiar territory this weekend – and not just because Brentford are on the road at Hull.

On Sunday, at the heart of the opposition, stands a defender he knows as well as almost any player he has coached: John Egan.

Old allies, new battle

Andrews has crossed paths with Egan at almost every stage of the centre-back’s career. He worked with him in the Republic of Ireland set-up, then again at Sheffield United, long before taking the reins at Gtech Stadium in 2025.

Now their relationship takes on a different edge. Egan, fresh from leading Hull to promotion last season, prepares to line up against both a former coach and a former club.

“He’s someone that I really like as a man,” Andrews said in his pre-match press conference, making it clear the respect runs deeper than tactics or team sheets.

“I coached him at international level and I also coached him at Sheffield United, so I know John pretty well. I’m so happy for him that he’s made that move to Hull, got the promotion back, playing at the highest level and still playing a really important role for our country.

“He’s a player you would go into the trenches with. He’s been a magnificent player. He’s a man that I really admire and like.”

A familiar face for Brentford

Brentford fans know exactly what Andrews is talking about. Egan was a cornerstone of their Championship side after joining from Gillingham in 2016, making 71 appearances and setting the tone with his commitment and consistency.

He thrived under Thomas Frank during a successful two-year spell with the Bees, then moved on to carve out a reputation as one of the most dependable centre-backs in the division.

Now, after helping Hull climb back into the top flight, Egan steps into a fixture loaded with subplots: former manager in one dugout, former club in the other, and his international coach watching from the technical area.

For Andrews, there will be no room for sentiment once the whistle goes. But when he looks across and sees Egan marshalling Hull’s back line, he will know exactly why he’d still “go into the trenches” with him – just not this weekend.