Republic of Ireland Under-21 manager Don Givens has warned striker Daryl Murphy to be patient ahead of life in the Barclays Premiership.
Murphy is due to complete a £70,000 transfer from eircom League side Waterford United to newly-promoted Sunderland within the next few days.
Black Cats boss Mick McCarthy has swooped for the 21-year-old after watching him in action on several scouting missions,
and after receiving many glowing reports, including from Givens.
Givens has also provided Reading with information on another Eircom League striker in Cork's Kevin Doyle who is poised for a move to Championship side.
However, Givens believes Doyle's chance will arrive more quickly than for Murphy due to the differing nature of the leagues in which they will be competing.
"They are good moves for the two boys, although it may take Daryl more time to make his mark because he is likely to play less games at first," said Givens as he prepares for his side's European U-21 Championship qualifier against Israel tomorrow.
Doyle was recently watched by Reading boss Steve Coppell and impressed in Cork's draw in Waterford. The Rebel club are expected to receive €120,000 for the deal.
The young Wexford man was Pat Dolan's first signing when he was Cork manager and it is no coincidence that Pat's brother Eamon is Youth Development Officer at Reading.
Meanwhile, Ireland are currently 10 points adrift of Group Four leaders Israel and seven behind second-placed France following a run of three successive defeats after opening up their campaign with a win over Cyprus.
Nothing less than a win is acceptable for Givens as he said: "We've still a slim chance of qualifying in the top two.
"But for that to happen we have to win our four remaining games, and we are capable of doing that if we perform to our level, and hope other results go our way."
The former Irish international is without captain Stephen Kelly after he damaged knee ligaments while playing for Spurs in an end-of-season friendly in Mauritius, while Cork's Liam Kearney yesterday pulled out with an ankle ligament injury, with Roy O'Donovan being drafted in.
Terry Masterson, who had been called up as reserve goalkeeper due to Notts County's Saul Deeney ending the season with a shoulder injury, has returned to Millwall after he sustained a back problem in training and has been replaced by Charlton's Darren Randolph.
