Described as “magnificent” by Alan Shearer after scoring twice against Tottenham in an explosive full debut for Brighton aged 19, Connolly’s output - and reputation - had nosedived rapidly in the intervening four years.
The Republic of Ireland international scored just six more goals for Brighton, three of them in the Carabao Cup. Loans to Middlesbrough and Venezia fell flat.
Off the pitch, things weren’t much better. Connolly was sanctioned by the Seagulls for breaching Covid protocols, filmed in a variety of compromising situations and regularly courted tabloid tattle due to his relationship with Love Island star Lucinda Stafford.
A loan to Hull last January looked like a trip to the last chance saloon, and Connolly must have feared the worst when a run of two goals in five promising games was halted by a foot injury that ultimately ended his season.
In Liam Rosenior, however, Connolly has an ardent fan. The Hull manager was a player-coach at Brighton when Connolly arrived from his native Galway at 15, and instantly admired the youngster’s technical quality and spiky attitude.
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