Sammie Szmodics hopes he has “shut up” the detractors who questioned his hunger to play for the Republic of Ireland after finally making his international debut.
The 28-year-old Blackburn striker has twice in the past had to pull out of squads, leading some to question his commitment amid suggestions – he insists without foundation – that he could defect to Hungary, for whom he also qualifies through his grandfather.
However after turning in an impressive display in Saturday evening’s 0-0 friendly draw with Belgium at the Aviva Stadium, Szmodics was in bullish mood.
Asked if he had worried his debut might never come, he said: “Of course there’s doubts.
“I had to go home in the past because I was injured and other things have happened, and you read stuff in the press that I don’t want to play for Ireland, which is ridiculous because I was desperate to.
“The best way to shut people up is to show what you can do and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love playing for Ireland and I’m excited now for the future to hopefully get many more caps.
“I’ve been ready for this for three or four years and to finally do it is unbelievable, but a big relief for me because it was one of the biggest days of my career.
“I hope I can wear the Ireland jersey a lot more.”
Szmodics was handed his chance by interim head coach John O’Shea, who will also take charge of Tuesday night’s friendly against Switzerland as the Football Association of Ireland prepares to unveil Stephen Kenny’s successor following his departure in November.
Ireland could, and probably should, have won the game after being awarded a first-half penalty, only for 19-year-old striker Evan Ferguson to slip as he attempted to beat keeper Matz Sels, who blocked with his legs.
Szmodics said: “Evan is a big lad, a young, confident boy. He shouldn’t think about that penalty miss – I’ve missed two penalties this season. It’s how you step up and go again.
“If we get one on Tuesday and he’s playing, I’m sure he will take it.”
Szmodics has 27 goals to his name so far this season, 21 of them in the Sky Bet Championship, but he admitted it would perhaps have been “cheeky” of him to demand he took the penalty himself.
He said: “I knew Evan would take it. Young lad, my debut – it would have been quite cheeky for me to take the ball.
“I would have taken it and if we would have got another one in the same game, I would have said I’d have it, although my record this season has not been amazing.”
Szmodics will hope for further action on Tuesday, but whatever happens, he will return home with three shirts, one to give to his parents, one for his agent and the third, the one he wore on the night.
Asked who would get that one, he said: “Me. Definitely. But I need to wash it.”
Man United could be without Toone until new year, says Skinner
Marc Skinner revealed that Manchester United could be without midfielder Ella Toone until the new year after she picked up a calf injury in training.
Toone has featured in five games in the Women's Super League this season, but is yet to register a goal or an assist so far this term.
The 25-year-old has missed United's last two games and was not selected in Sarina Wiegman's England squad for their upcoming friendlies against the United States and Switzerland.
She had previously appeared in a staggering 96 straight matches before missing United's WSL showdown with Leicester City last weekend.
But ahead of the Red Devils' meeting with league leaders Chelsea on Sunday, Skinner confirmed they would be without Toone for not only that game, but for the foreseeable future.
"We have three games [after the international break and before Christmas]. There's always the hope, but I think you balance and you go, 'right, if we can get her back, we get her back'," Skinner said.
"But we're just not going to rush her in this moment because it's a calf injury, it's your running mechanism. If we injure the running mechanism, it takes longer.
"So ideally we'd like her back for those games afterwards.
"The projection is she misses this game [Chelsea], she misses the international window, probably misses the first game after that, and then we'll see from there.
"But because it is such a short block of only three games, we'll assess whether it's worth that or actually resetting to come back after Christmas."
Al-Nassr 1-2 Al-Qadsiah: Aubameyang winner ends hosts' unbeaten run
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit the winner as Al-Qadsiah inflicted a 2-1 defeat on Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League on Friday to end their 21-match unbeaten run.
Cristiano Ronaldo's seventh league goal of the season put Al-Nassr ahead, but Al-Qadsiah replied swiftly through Julian Quinones before Aubameyang struck the decisive blow.
The hosts drew first blood in the 32nd minute when Ronaldo slotted home after Al-Qadsiah goalkeeper Koen Casteels had spilled a routine catch from Talisca's cross.
However, Al-Nassr's joy was short-lived when Quinones brought down Turki Al Ammar's delivery five minutes later, with the Mexcio winger firing past Bento to level the scores.
Quinones also played a part in the winning goal after brilliantly turning the ball back across goal from Nahitan Nandez's search pass to tee up a simple finish for Aubameyang.
The result sees Al-Qadsiah move level on 22 points with third-placed Al-Nassr, with Al-Shabab also level with them.
Stefano Pioli's Al-Nassr are six points adrift of defending champions and leaders Al-Hilal, who also have a game in hand.
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