RICHIE TOWELL wants to emulate his hero Roy Keane – with an eyecatching switch from Ireland to England.

Keane, pictured, was plucked from Irish club Cobh Ramblers to forge a stellar playing career at Nottingham Forest and Manchester United.

Fellow central midfielder Towell is also aiming to make a big impact after his move from League of Ireland double winners Dundalk to Albion.

Towell said: “Roy Keane was probably my hero growing up. I admired the way he played, his determination. His career was incredible.

“I try to produce more goals than Roy. If I could emulate his career that would be incredible. We have slightly different styles but I have completely changed my game since I was younger.

“I used to be a sitting midfielder and sometimes right-back but I have worked really hard on improving my game so I might have to get a new hero!”

Towell might sub-consciously have been thinking of the fearless Keane when he and partner Kelly named their new baby daughter with reference to an American-Italian mobster from a hit TV series.

“The baby is called Meadow,” he said. “It’s Tony Soprano’s daughter and you don’t mess with Tony Soprano.

“I have been missing out on changing nappies because the baby is in Ireland, so I am currently getting away with murder. I’m sure when they come over I’ll be changing nappies.”

Albion announced the capture from January of Towell, the Irish PFA player of the year, at the end of November.

He signed a two-and-a-half-year contract but the prolific Dubliner has been restricted until now to training with his new team-mates. He gets his first chance to shine in the FA Cup third round tie at Hull today.

“I can’t wait,” he said. “I signed a few weeks ago, so it’s been frustrating not being able to play. Being at training with the lads has been great but nothing compares to playing competitive football and that’s what I’m here to do.

“I know it will be difficult, getting 29 goals last season as a midfielder is good. I know it will be a step up here. It’s down to me and I will need to work harder. Hopefully I will be able to reap the rewards by getting goals for Brighton.

“I just need to get into the team, take my chance when ever I get it and be ready for the busy schedule in the Championship. There are a lot of games coming up thick and fast so I just need to take my chance when it comes.

“The training has been a step up, you can see the quality here. To be fair, at Dundalk we trained at a really high intensity as well, we had really good players, but there is definitely a step up of quality. Time will tell when I get my game time.”

The Argus:

Roy Keane

Towell, 24, will have to find a way past Albion’s central midfield kingpins Dale Stephens and Beram Kayal, a former colleague at Celtic.

He also played under Albion No.2 Colin Calderwood at Hibernian during a spell on loan from the Glasgow giants.

Towell said: “I used to train with Beram every day but I was a lot younger when I was there. He did really well at Celtic, I admire the way he plays and I look forward to playing next to him.

“They are two really good players (Kayal and Stephens). I have watched both of them closely from the sidelines, because I haven’t been able to play. Even with lots of games they have been performing well, so I know it will be difficult to shift them but I will take my chances.

“I had a really good time at Celtic. I made some really good friends there and I then went on loan to Hibs when they were in the SPL. They’re a really big club that had big attendances.

“Colin brought me in at Hibs and played me as a right-back so it’s a little bit different to where I play now but I was only a youngster then and I have matured a lot as a man and a player.”

Towell has boy band looks and grins a lot but he is deadly serious about grabbing his chance with Albion and progressing his career. He is well prepared for the challenge of performing in England in the Championship.

“I have always had my personal trainer since I came home from Celtic,” he said. “I was adamant about keeping a high level of fitness.

“The trainer is actually linked with my old team Dundalk. When I left I remained close with him and he really pushed me to my limits during the Irish off-season.

“We get to watch a lot of the games over in Ireland. I know the Championship is a really high standard, I have also been to the last couple of matches too.

“You get to see how the other teams play and, most importantly, how Brighton play. It’s a really exciting chapter in my career and I’m looking forward to getting started.”