Ben Symes

Yeah, there's a lot more competition than there was six to eight months ago, which is a big positive.

Yeah, I spoke to him after the game and basically just asked him how proud he was to finally make a senior debut after playing, as you said, every single level of underage football for Ireland.

just over the moon really it's been a long time coming and I'm thankful that I finally made my debut obviously you weren't fit enough to play in Prague on Thursday night did you feel good coming into the camp as a whole obviously we know there was a couple of back and forths about the fitness issue yeah I felt fine it's just more of just easing me in because I've had a couple of weeks out so I think they've managed me very well and yeah it's obviously been a long moment coming from career with playing for Ireland underage and now senior level with Stoke playing every week in the championship you must be delighted just to finally get this over the line and get the green jersey on

Obviously, you're coming into a game where a little bit of a cagey affair and probably a game where, let's be honest, neither side really want to play this sort of game.

They want to be playing in the playoff final.

What's that sort of experience like coming into it?

You came on at Central Midfield today.

We've seen you play across a range of positions for your club this season.

Is Central Midfield where you feel most comfortable?

Obviously, you've got the camp coming up against Granada in May and then you've Qatar and Canada coming up after.

Are those camps maybe you're going to get more caps under your belt before we play competitive fixtures again?

I think that you absolutely need Seamus Coleman in the camp going forward, especially for Euro 2028.

I think that squad is so young and those leadership roles need to be filled.

And you've delighted John Egan, Robbie Brady in there as well.

But Hamerhal Grimson said himself last night that Seamus is one of a kind.

When asked if he'd ever met anyone like him, he said he hadn't.

This is the type of character that we're talking about here.

Frank Lampard said the same thing when he kept everything up.

So this is the type of guy who, you know, you search for for 50 years to be involved in your side.

We have one.