Mark Sykes last year became the first Belfast-born player to play for the Republic of Ireland in 76 years, and is hoping to add more caps against Latvia and France.
Gavin Cooney reports from FAI HQ, Abbottstown IRELAND’S 1-0 FRIENDLY win in Malta last November is forgettable in almost all aspects bar a late debut off the bench.
“It was unbelievable for me and obviously a dream come true to represent Ireland”, Sykes told reporters at FAI HQ in Abbottstown today. “I know it was only a few minutes and I’ve mentioned before it wasn’t the biggest game in the world but for me it felt unbelievable. Like I said it was a dream come true.
“I’m out there putting the sacrifice and hard work in and I made that decision full well knowing what is going to happen. I knew it was going to be a difficult decision because I feel like if I was to stay, which is something I wouldn’t have wanted to do, I feel my foot was already in the door, and never being around the Ireland setup I knew it was going to be difficult.
“As soon as you switch off, you get punished”, Sykes says of City, whom he faced with Bristol City in the FA Cup earlier this season, losing 3-0. “The coaching is obviously top quality, the players are worth millions and millions and I think they’d £380 million on the bench, something like that, that’s the step up in class.”
“It’s going to be difficult”, says Sykes. “I’m just off the back of playing Man City with Bristol City so I know how difficult those games can be but we’re ready for it you know? We’ll work this week and hopefully we can put a good performance in.”
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