“I’ve been watching him all his career” – Daryl Murphy’s ode to the legend that is Robbie Keane

It's been a tough ol' slog for Daryl Murphy.

20 international caps have come and gone over the last nine years but he's yet to hit the net for his country. The Waterford man has been banging them in for Ipswich but when he's donned the green shirt, it just hasn't happened.

"I think I've had some decent chances and the 'keeper's saved it or I've hit the post or something like that. "You always think as a striker that you're going to get a chance but I can't dwell on it too much. If I did that, then my confidence would be shattered."

He keeps going. He keeps plugging away and God knows that he's managed to make himself bloody useful for the cause even in the absence of goals. Murphy has been selected from the start in a lot of big games in the Martin O'Neill reign, most notably against Germany in that historic win back in October. And he's been handy. He's been valuable. https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/664130173097390086 So, whilst he'd like to just scored a sodding goal any time soon, he can't get bogged down with that thought either.

"A goal would be great, yeah," he admitted. "I've been waiting a long time for one of them. If I play any part, first and foremost I need to make sure I do my basics right. "If I'm just thinking about a goal then I'm not holding the ball up and marking from corners and setting people up, then it's worth nothing really. Once that part of the game is taken care of, then I get a chance and hopefully it will go in. "It is frustrating but it's part and parcel of football."

With Robbie Keane glowing in twilight, there's a vacancy opening up soon in the shape of 67 goals. That's a daunting prospect for anyone planning to fill those shoes.

"It should be exciting but... you'd want to be a very good striker to beat Robbie's record. I can't really see that happening in years to come," Murphy spoke about someone stepping up to the plate being left behind by Keano. "There's a space there for grabs but for any young man coming through who wants to score goals, you look up to people like of Robbie. He's a legend. "I've been watching him all my career. I watched him on his debut when I was at school, he was 17. I've been watching him all his career and he's been brilliant so it's a big ask."

Murphy doesn't look at it as a career past though. He's still in awe at the LA Galaxy player and any leadership qualities the Dubliner might display in a seemingly new role now have always been there.

"He's always been a voice of influence in the changing room," Murphy said. "That's just the way he is. He's brilliant with all the lads. Anyone that comes into the squad, from day one, he'll talk to you and make you feel welcome and he's brilliant for us to have. "Still now, he's so sharp. His thinking... he's so sharp in the head that he knows exactly what's around him and what he's going to do before the ball even comes. Then you see his finishing and that's still top notch. Obviously you learn from that. You watch him and see the things he does. "But he still offers a lot. If you need a goal, there's only one man you know who can do that for you. He's proven that his whole career.

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