Aaron Connolly: I've made so-called mistakes but I'm ready to focus on football

The attacker is back in the Ireland U21s on Friday having fallen out of favour at senior level.

Aaron Connolly during a Republic of Ireland U21's training session at FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

Aaron Connolly insists his presence in the Ireland U21 squad proves he doesn’t take international football for granted.

The attacker has earned eight senior caps since his last involvement with the underage squad two years ago but his tribulations at club level, on his second loan spell from Brighton and Hove Albion, pushed him beyond the periphery of Stephen Kenny’s squad.