Shane Long: ‘I know it can be all over so quickly so let’s start off on the right foot’

The sight of Shane Long standing poised on the sideline as the fourth official holds up his number is nothing new to Republic of Ireland supporters, but if a stadium can take a collective breath, then it may have happened in Turner’s Cross last Tuesday week.

Long was the one fully fit forward in Martin O’Neill’s squad what with Robbie Keane, Jonathan Walters, Daryl Murphy and David McGoldrick all dealing with injuries or struggling for sharpness — and even Long had suffered a gashed knee against the Dutch four days before.

Not only that, but his form with Southampton and Ireland had been such throughout the season that he was clearly the most potent weapon in Martin O’Neill’s arsenal.