Long hungry for goals as new season dawns

“It was a while coming,” laughed Shane Long, referring to the nine-year wait for his first goal at Turner’s Cross. More importantly, Long’s strike in West Brom’s 6-0 rout of a weakened Cork City on Tuesday night was, the player hopes, a sign of things to come for him, as well as his club and country.

“I knew the goals would come — I don’t need to waste all my goals in pre-season,” he said. “I never set a [goal] target ahead of the season. I just try and play every week, look at the next game and try and score in it, and then kick on and try and get a run going.

“I don’t mind how many goals I score. I think the manager appreciates that I do a good job for the team so I don’t put that pressure on myself.” Then he adds with a grin: “But at the same time I would like to get 40, so we’ll see what happens.”