KERR McINROY is getting used to being confused with Mark Coyle.
But his Shelbourne boss Damien Duff says Celtic captain Callum McGregor is the player he thinks of most when he looks at his new addition.
Duff sees a lot of the Hoops skipper in McInroy[/caption]
Duff and McInroy worked together at the Parkhead side — with the ex-Ireland international finally succeeding in bringing the Glasgow-born midfielder to Shels in the close-season after being thwarted in previous attempts to sign him.
With his shaved head, the Scot has fitted right in, in more than a footballing sense, alongside Shels captain Coyle in the middle of the park, even if it leads to some cases of mistaken identity.
McInroy — who will return to the starting XI at Tolka Park against Drogheda United tonight — said: “We’re like two cue balls in there!
“Coyler is a really good player and a great guy so I’ve got on really well with him off the pitch and I feel like I’m getting on with him on the pitch as well.
“A lot of people have been getting us mixed up which isn’t ideal, and I can imagine it being a commentator’s nightmare. I need to get myself to Turkey to change it up!”
Whatever about a hair replacement, Duff reckons his new signing — who was capped by Scotland at both Under-19 and Under-21 level — could be an heir apparent to the Celtic skipper.
Duff told SunSport: “He always reminds me of Callum McGregor, even the way he moves, the way he plays, the shape of his body, the shape of his legs, his demeanour, absolutely everything.”
McInroy’s hopes of breaking through at the Bhoys were not helped by injury but he clocked up 91 league appearances with Dunfermline, Airdrieonians, Ayr United, Kilmarnock and Partick Thistle.
Duff recalled: “He had an ACL. It’s a brilliant academy and that’s first and foremost why I went over there, to work with the B team.
“Obviously, after six weeks I ended up with the first team but there are brilliant young players who have consistently come through over the years.
“Sometimes you need a bit of luck, a chance, don’t get that injury.
“He was always one that was very fondly thought of at Celtic. Sometimes things don’t work out, he’s taken a different route.
“He seems happy, he’s always smiling, the lads love him, we love him and he’s settled in brilliantly.
“Even coming on on a difficult pitch against Galway on Monday, I thought he stood out. He brought a real control back to our game.
“He’s just a brilliant footballer and I think his levels are so consistently high, I want to make sure that people don’t take it for granted and think, ‘Oh, that’s Kerr’.
“He was someone I tried to sign a year or 18 months ago and he wasn’t comfortable or willing to leave Scotland at the time.
“This time he was and I’m very grateful that he came.”
And McInroy, 24, is enjoying the fresh start having been without a club since his Killie contract expired last summer.
He said: “I worked with Damien for a little bit with the reserves and then he moved up to the first team.
“I was coming over to someone I know really well and who I know will push me and get the best out of me.
“So from a career point of view he was the best person to work with.
“And I was just looking for something different and it came at the right time for me, to come over here and try something totally different, a new experience, live in a different place, improve my football in a different league.”
McInroy has also been impressed by the team spirit at Shels.
He said: “If they’re playing or they’re not playing, everyone is together and I’ve not experienced that before as much as this.”
