Simon Cox is backing West Bromwich Albion's move for Reading striker Shane Long.
Former team-mates at the Madjeski in Reading, the pair have only actually played together for 64 minutes there. And they have not featured for Ireland together as Long replaced Cox in the two final games against Macedonia and Italy.
Cox told the Daily Mail: "He will be a great addition to our team. You know he gives you pace and power and his record last year was very good. Hopefully he can come in and re-produce what he did at Reading last year.
"I don't think it will be between me and him. I think the manager is bringing him in to play with Peter Odemwingie so it is down to me to produce performances in training and to fight my way into the team.
"He was a bit-part player at Reading when I was there and only played a few games and a few sub appearances. He was similar to what I got last year but for this year has obviously been talked about a great deal and rightly so for the goals and his performances. If he keeps up what he did, I don't see why he can't be a hit for us.
"Working day-in, day-out, with the players we have at West Bromwich can only help him. The manager helped me immensely and he can do the same to Shane as well."