The Long road that eventually turned

SUDDENLY, everything appears to be falling into place for Shane Long.

Ireland’s qualification campaign may have stalled at the Aviva Stadium last Friday but the Reading striker’s stuttering international career received a much-needed kickstart.

His appearance off the bench was a first in a competitive fixture for his country in three years. His goal brought a drought of similar length to an end and he is in pole position to build on all that against Slovakia even if the circumstances aren’t ideal.