It’s approaching a year since John Egan’s physical and mental pain subsided after a surprise visitor to the Darlington Woodlands Hospital.

Ireland U19 manager Paul Doolin wants Uefa chiefs in Serbia next week to protect his players from anything like the racism England were subjected to last October.

For the first time during the 24 years of the U21 Uefa championship, Ireland approach the tail-end of their qualifying campaign in contention.