Kevin Long embraces challenge for club and country

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.

The Cork native finished last season as first-choice for club and country, a stark contract to the previous seven seasons when he couldn’t earn a slot in either team. The hope now is that Martin O’Neill’s decision to thrust Long into the side for the World Cup qualifier against Austria on his competitive debut enhances his club situation too.

Next month will test if his elevation was just merely a cameo when the Premier League returns and the international campaign reaches the penultimate double-header stage against Georgia and joint-leaders Serbia.