Good news for Irish international soccer as Shane Long looks set to join Premier League West Brom:

Shane Long:  SET TO BE A PREMIER LEAGUE HIT

               West Brom are poised to smash their transfer record to sign Republic of Ireland striker Shane Long from Reading.  The Baggies spoke to Long's advisors over the weekend and are today completing negotiations on a £7million deal.  Whilst this observer was hoping that Long would join the plethora of Irish players at Wolves;  the fact he has signed for a Premier League club will be good news for the Irish international football cause with the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign now coming towards a climax. 

25 goals last season for Reading's Player of the Year

               Albion head coach Roy Hodgson is hoping to sign Long in time for Sunday's Barclays Premier League opener with Manchester United at the Hawthorns.  It will be the first monetary outlay of the summer by West Brom after Gareth McAuley, Zoltan Gera and Billy Jones arrived on Bosman free transfers and Ben Foster joined on loan from Birmingham.  Hodgson has been pursuing Long all summer after the 24-year-old scored 25 goals last season for Reading.  I am quite sure the Tipperary native will more than hold his own in the Premier League.