![]() "It was a proud day for my family and to make my debut at home makes it even better. He left the Aviva Stadium with the man of the match award, having played a part in the first two goals for the hosts and used possession intelligently throughout. Stephen Kenny told him on Tuesday that he was going to start his first Ireland game and Smallbone didn't disappoint. "And I've loved every minute of playing for Ireland and long may it continue. "But it gave me that desire and another bit inside to make sure that going into the games coming up, I had to make sure I was in the side for this campaign, to give myself the best opportunity to play," he said. Having served his apprenticeship with the under-21s, Smallbone came away from his first senior camp last November disappointed not to feature. "I haven't had a lot of minutes in the previous two seasons so for it to have gone the way it has so far this season has been a big positive for myself." "Obviously, I wanted to get in and around the senior international side and that side of it has gone very well coming off the back of the injury. "For sure, it was a big season for myself personally going into it to make sure I got the minutes," Smallbone admitted. It has been a welcome run of games for the creative midfielder who suffered an ACL injury in early 2021 and only made four Premier League appearances for the Saints last season. READ MORE: Stephen Kenny full of praise for Will Smallbone after Ireland debut That was the 39th appearance of the season for the 23-year-old, who has been consistently good on loan to Championship club Stoke City from Southampton. ![]() Will Smallbone would love a crack at France after seizing his chance on his Ireland debut.Ī goal on his full debut for the impressive Evan Ferguson against Latvia was a boost for Stephen Kenny ahead of Monday's qualifier Euro 2024 - and so was the stand-out performance of Smallbone. ![]()
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