ROY O'DONOVAN

On Echo site.

Colchester boss Aidy Boothroyd has already confirmed his interest in signing O’Donovan, who is currently on loan at Saints’ League One rivals Hartlepool.

The 24-year-old has netted nine times in 14 league games for Pools, including two in a 3-1 win against Colchester last month.

The player is out of contract at the Stadium of Light this summer and is not expected to be offered a new deal by the Black Cats.

O’Donovan has twice played against Saints this season – firstly while on loan to Southend last October (he came on as a late sub and played alongside current Saints striker Lee Barnard) and also for Hartlepool during the latter’s 3-2 loss at St Mary’s in March.

In only his third game for Hartlepool O’Donovan belted a hat-trick in a 3-0 home win against, ironically, Southend.

O’Donovan started his career as a trainee with Coventry, but was released in 2004 without having made a senior appearance.

He returned to his native Republic of Ireland and quickly made a name for himself with Cork City.

Though Fulham were also interested in signing the player in 2007, O’Donovan was persuaded to sign for Sunderland by Cork-born Roy Keane.

He has not played for Sunderland since the start of the 2008/09 campaign – he spent last season on loan to Dundee United and Blackpool.

Boothroyd is in the market for a striker after Colchester’s remarkable collapse.

At one stage they look play-off certainties, but have won only one of their last 13 matches.

On loan Ipswich striker Kevin Lisbie is their top league scorer with 12, but only two of them have come since December 5.

Second top scorer Kay Odejayi has nine, but only three have been scored since mid-November.

Lisbie, who is out of contract at Ipswich this summer, was linked with Saints during the January transfer window.

He played at Charlton during Pardew’s time in charge at The Valley.

certainly wouldn't want Lisbie, don't know much about O'Donovan other than what is written above