Leeds United legend Ian Harte thinks new signing Eunan O'Kane will suit head coach Garry Monk’s style of play.
The Republic of Ireland international was snapped up by the Whites from Premier League outfit Bournemouth on a two-year deal on deadline day.
Hart, who watched O’Kane from close quarters during his stint at Dean Court between 2013 and 2015, explained that the midfielder was a “very consistent” player at Bournemouth.
And the 39-year-old went on to explain that Monk’s playing style at Leeds is tailor-made for O’Kane as he expects his compatriot to be a big hit at Elland Road.
“Eunan’s a very clever player”, Harte was quoted as saying by the Yorkshire Evening Post.
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“We weren’t a team of big names at Bournemouth and a lot of the attention was on Callum Wilson, Harry Arter, guys like that, but Eunan was very consistent – seven out of 10, eight out of 10, that sort of level every time.
“People appreciated the work he did. He’s great with the ball at his feet and if you play to his strengths he’ll break from midfield and look to slide balls into the strikers.
"That’s what he’s good at.
“To get the best out of him you’ve got to have possession and you’ve got to get the ball on the ground.
“If you go long ball or rely on too many diagonals it won’t do much for him. It was always pure football at Bournemouth, with the centre-halves playing the ball out.
“I know that Garry had Swansea playing a similar way when he was there so this should be a really good move for Eunan. I think it’s a great signing.”
O’Kane progressed through Everton’s youth set-up before joining Coleraine in 2009.
The 26-year-old, whose present contract with Leeds runs until the summer of 2018, was then roped in by Torquay United the following season, with Bournemouth signing him in 2012.
O’Kane represented Northern Ireland up to Under-21 level before deciding to switch his allegiance to the Republic of Ireland.
He has thus far earned four senior caps for the Republic of Ireland.
