The Preston North End striker remains the top-scorer in the League of Ireland this season.

"It caps what's been a fabulous few months for me. Coming into the team at the end of last season was great and then to make my international debut for Ireland over the summer was a dream."

Kevin Long appreciates he’s never going to reign supreme in a golf competition amongst his Burnley teammates but he’s well on course to winning a Premier League starting slot from Sean Dyche.

Long was left with mixed emotions after his competitive debut ended in dramatic fashion.

In keeping with his surname, it might have taken Kevin Long a fair old length of time to finally get his first senior Irish call-up but it took him only 20 minutes to reach last week’s squad training base at Fota Island from his family home in Ballyphehane.