“If I’m involved, I’ll definitely be ready.”
The country’s hopes rest on a Waterford man’s shoulders.
It looks increasingly likely that Daryl Murphy will be chosen to lead the line for Ireland against Bosnia on Friday.
The Republic travel to Zenica for the first leg of a Euro 2016 play-off and, with Jon Walters definitely out and Shane Long’s inclusion looking increasingly more limited, Martin O’Neill may have no other option but to turn to the man who bagged a hat-trick for Ipswich at the weekend.
It works out in the manager’s favour, you’d think. The cynic would tell you that O’Neill would have preferred to start with Murphy anyway. That, in an away clash in Bosnia, in a two-leg do-or-die tie, Ireland would be happy to just play it tight on Friday night, offer a greater physical presence for an out ball and a presence that will solidify them for defensive and offensive set pieces. They would be happy to get the play-off back to Dublin with everything to fight for.
A fully fit Shane Long might’ve threatened that conservative approach. But his injury and his failure to play since Poland takes that decision off the table nearly. Now, it just makes sense to play Daryl Murphy. No eyebrows will be raised.
And, in a frank and honest interview, the 32-year-old opened up on his struggles to score for Ireland after what has been 16 caps. And after what was a thrilling performance on Saturday.
“It was nice [to score a first career hat-trick against Rotherham]. I think it was about time,” Murphy admitted. “It was nice to get on the score sheet and up and running for the season. I think it was a little bit of relief. I’ve been getting chances in games previous and it was just a case of taking one.
“I’ve been playing well the last few weeks so I knew that I would get chances. It was just a case of putting one away.”
He hasn’t been able to do that though for Ireland as of yet and it is something he wants to address. He was a big part of the team that saw off the Germans in Dublin last month however and he takes confidence from that.
“Massive confidence. It was such a big game. I didn’t really expect it to be honest with you. I had only played a handful of games before then with the club, through injury. So to get the nod was absolutely brilliant.
“I just tired out the defence for Longy to come on and score, didn’t I?”
But why can’t he find the net for his country?
“It’s a different level. It’s a different calibre of players,” he said. “You’re playing against the top players for their countries and you look at the quality Germany had in their side. It’s a case of, if you get a chance, you have to take it. I think I had a half a chance but you see when Shane came on, he got one chance and he scored it and that’s all you get at this level.
“You have to be ready to take it and, unfortunately, I’ve not done that.”
Murphy looks to be the man who will lead the line for the first leg anyway. But he likes that pressure. He likes that responsibility. That’s how Mick McCarthy got the best out of him.
“From day one when [McCarthy] came in at Ipswich – I was after playing left midfield a lot under the previous manager – his first day he told that I’m going to play as a striker and that he wanted me to be his main man. From then on it was just a little boost, having the faith that he showed in me and it just came through in my game.”
Martin O’Neill could well put his faith in Murphy again. And that is something the striker will relish.
“Yeah [I thrive off being the main man]. It’s a nice little bit of pressure. I think it brings out the best in you. If someone has faith in you, if a manager has faith in you, it definitely brings out the best in you.”
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