Aaron Connolly eager for central role after being sidelined in Slovakia

The Brighton striker was honest enough to admit that he has to start adding to the four goals managed in 35 appearances for club and country to date

FULL FLOW: Aaron Connolly is unfazed about the prospect of lining out at Wembley and is relishing the challenge of trying to prove the answer to Ireland’s goalscoring prayers. ‘I love the pressure. It’s nice, at 20 years of age and 19 for Adam, to have pressure like that on you and fans and coaches expecting things of you,’ he says. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

If Aaron Connolly's Ireland career was to end here and now it would be remembered not for the promise displayed over five caps but his absence when a Covid calamity condemned the attacker to a watching brief as the Republic lost to Slovakia in a Euro 2020 playoff semi-final.

He realises the magnitude of the opportunity lost last month. Still only 20, and with the likelihood of a long career ahead of him, he spoke yesterday about the possibility that he may never have the occasion to play for his country again in a game that could propel them towards a major tournament.