Former Irish international Keith Andrews joins underage coaching team at St Patrick's Athletic

Former Irish international Keith Andrews is to join the underage coaching set-up at St Patrick's Athletic for the next 18 months.

The 36-year-old, who won 35 caps for the Republic of Ireland between 2008 and 2012, will work under new underage Director of Football Ger O'Brien while earning his Pro License with the FAI.

Andrews retired in 2015 and immediately took up the role of first team coach at MK Dons before vacating the position when Karl Robinson was sacked last month.

And while Andrews' role hasn't been exactly defined, he is expected to work with the club's successful sides who have won both the under-19 and under-17 leagues in the past two years.

"Keith has recently started his pro license and we are delighted we can help him over the duration of his course,” O'Brien told the St Patrick's Athletic website.

“It's fantastic for the club and particularly our underage players and coaches to have someone of the calibre of Keith come in and work with our teams."

"Keith had a hugely successful career, playing at the highest level possible for both club and country and his experience and knowledge will be fantastic for us to see up close.

“He's working with some of the Republic of Ireland underage teams already and we look forward here at St Pat's to him starting with us in January when the players report back for pre-season."

Andrews played schoolboy football in Dublin with Stella Maris before joining Wolverhampton Wanderers as a trainee.

He made his Wolves debut as a 19-year-old and became the youngest player to captain the side in 100 years when he wore the armband in a game against Queen's Park Rangers.

He spent time in the lower divisions with Hull City and MK Dons, winning the FA Trophy and promotion to League One with the latter, before former Dons boss Paul Ince brought him to the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers.

The Dubliner had spells with Ipswich Town, West Bromwich Albion, Bolton Wanderers, Brighton & Hove Albion and Watford before finishing his career back in Milton Keynes.