His season will end either in New York or Wembley but for this dilemma it’s natural for Eunan O’Kane to put club ahead of country.

As he serenaded his new team-mates with an initiation song after dinner last night, uncapped Ireland midfielder Eunan O’Kane could understand how the choice of ‘The Gambler’ by Kenny Rogers has resonance to his career.

Six years ago, Eunan O’Kane was just a statistic; another talented youngster dumped by a Premier League club and forced to return home with his pride and career in ruins.