Sinclair Armstrong hopes to use Ireland cap as a springboard with QPR

"This is only motivation for myself to go back to QPR and try and bang in the goals. Hopefully that starts this weekend against Sunderland," he admitted.

Sinclair Armstrong is hoping to kick on with QPR. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Sinclair Armstrong says that making his senior Republic of Ireland debut is motivation to kick-on with QPR.

The Dubliner was called up to the squad last weekend and was sent on in the second half of Ireland’s 2-1 loss to the Netherlands in Euro 2024 qualifying.

The full-time whistle marked a bittersweet moment for Armstrong and he hopes to use this to drive himself on after the international break.

“It’s mixed emotions really – as it is in the changing room. I just hope for many more moments like this to come,” he said.

“I don’t think good day is the perfect way to describe it. It’s a wonderful night for myself and my family. My two brothers and my best mate were out there today. (They) watched me make my debut of after I started with the Irish U16s (and got) all the way up to the U21s.

“I told around Friday morning that I was going to be with the first team. A lot of emotion. You don’t think you’re going to come on and make your debut but that is exactly what I did. It’s been a long journey.

“If you told me in January this year from where I was with QPR - with the season I had last season to now - that I would be making my debut for Ireland, I would have said you’re on substances.

“Listen, it is what it is, a wonderful night for myself and my family, my close friends, and my loved ones. This is only motivation for myself to go back to QPR and kick-on.”

Armstrong’s rise, from Shamrock Rovers to the Championship in England, is quite a story. And he knows it.

“Listen, I’m just a kid from Clondalkin - that lives 20 minutes away - that just made his international debut,” he added.

“As I said before, this is only motivation for myself to go back to QPR and try and bang in the goals. Hopefully that starts this weekend against Sunderland.

“I have two goals and two assists in my first starts with QPR and I set myself a standard, that is not good enough. I’m going to go back and train hard and so as much as I can to get the goals and more assists. Hopefully (I) have a strong finish to the year with QPR.”

If anything sums up what this night means to Armstrong, it was facing Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk.

“To play against him tonight is something I thought I wouldn’t do for a long time,” he explained.

“He’s a guy that I watch in the Premier League week in week out. He’s a world class player. As I said, this is motivation for me to keep going and to be better as a human - as a footballer - and many more nights like this will come.”