With good mate Kevin Doyle suspended for the play-off first leg against Estonia next month, in-form Shane Long believes he should start for Ireland.
There were numerous cries of disbelief and accusations that Giovanni Trapattoni didn’t know what he was doing when he ignored the Tipperary native and instead chose Simon Cox to start against Armenia last week, but the decision was forgotten about afterwards as Cox delivered a man of the match display in what was a dreadfully unconvincing Irish win.
With Jonathan Walters also impressing in a brief cameo, Long was left picking splinters out of his backside as he warmed the pine for 90 minutes against Armenia, but delivered a timely reminder of what he is all about with a fine display against Wolves at the weekend.
Having picked up a red card against Armenia, Doyle will miss the first leg of the play-off in Tallinn, although Robbie Keane has stated that he expects to recover in time despite fears that he would miss both games after picking up an injury against Andorra before his Garth Brooks-inspired stage appearance in Malahide earlier this month.
Whether or not Keane recovers in time, there is certainly places up for grabs in the Irish attack and Long believes he is worth a shot, a sentiment that would surely be echoed by a large number of Irish supporters.
“It was disappointing not to play against Armenia but it was the right result,” said Long.
“We now have Estonia in the play-offs and hopefully we can get to the Euros and make it a good summer next year. There are a lot of games for West Brom before that so hopefully I can stake my claim in those games.
“People say I’ve got a great chance to start with Kevin Doyle suspended and Robbie Keane injured. Kevin is missing and I would like to think I am a natural replacement for him.
“But I thought I may start the last game as well, and it wasn’t to be, so we will have to see what happens. Hopefully I can keep doing what I am doing here at West Brom, keep putting in performances, and the Irish manager will take note.
“The manager didn’t say why I didn’t play against Armenia. He just told me I was on the bench and to make sure to be ready if I was needed.”
Long better hope that Trap’s DVD Player is in full working order or he’ll be telling him the same thing in Tallinn next month.
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