Richie Towell believes that Michael Noonan can be the League of Ireland Premier Division’s top goalscorer this season, if he stays at Shamrock Rovers for the full campaign.
Rovers go into the start of the season with considerable speculation surrounding the future of the 17-year-old attacker.
Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim are reported to have agreed a fee of €2million with Rovers for Hoffenheim but reports claim Noonan was not keen on a move to Germany.
With the winter transfer window poised to shut across Europe this week, Noonan now looks set to be with Rovers until at least the summer.
Speaking on the RTÉ Soccer Podcast, former Dundalk and Rovers striker Richie Towell claimed that Noonan will be top goalscorer in the league this term, should he stay at Tallaght with Rovers for the duration.
“I think if Michael Noonan stays in the league and plays every week, I think he could be the top scorer,” Towell said.
“Will he stay in the league? That’s the thing, I don’t know, I hope he does. If he stayed for a full season and played every game, I think he would be the top scorer.
“He’s a natural goal scorer. No matter what age group he’s playing for, he’s scored goals, underage, he’s always scored goals.
“Anytime he’s played for Rovers, he’s done really well and scored goals. I think if he gets consistency in playing every game.”
Towell, who won the Golden Boot himself as player with 25 league goals for Dundalk in 2015, sees a great future for Noonan, and he believes that another season with Rovers under Stephen Bradley would be a big positive for his development.
“The question is, does Stephen want to want to put that much pressure on someone so young? I don’t know, that’s probably why he has the likes of Rory Gaffney and [John] McGovern there to share the load.
“I think is he played every game, he would be top scorer and I don’t think he would be the way it’s been the last couple of years, where it’s been 14 goals that have won it. I think he could be the one that gets 20 goals.”