DUFFY TRAINING AND GOOD TO GO

excellent, actually.

“It’s when he comes and trains with the lads and he doesn’t look out of place. He’s fitted in and he looks every bit the international player.

“There’s no point having them in the squad if I don’t. You have got to believe in him and I would with him, if I’m going to play him.”

Collins, 28, has been a journey man having left Aston Villa and bounced around Shrewsbury, Swindon, Hibs, Northampton Town, Crawley Town and now Luton.

But Mccarthy insists he has the strength of character to deal with an important role if tasked with it in steamy Tbilisi today.

“He’s as mentally strong as any of the others that have been upfront, I’ve no doubt about that.

“He’s been around a long time and that’ll give him his mental strength and he’s scored wherever he’s been.

“To get in the squad, how he’s done it, shows a huge amount of dedication, hard work and mental strength to keep going and get his cap and his first goal. If I decide to pick him, I’ve no worries about him.”

Ireland legend Richard Dunne said this week that Connolly’s enthusiasm reminds him of Robbie Keane when he first burst onto the scene. But Mccarthy isn’t buying that – not yet at least.

“If you don’t mind I’ll wait and see him have a few games and see how he does before I start comparing him to Robbie Keane in any shape or form,” he said. “We should just let him make his debut when he does and let’s see how he does. I’d love to be comparing him to Robbie at some stage but I’m not going to start that now.

“Aaron can play on the left, that’s where I first really saw him. He was devastating playing from that position for the 21s.

“But he plays up front in a two with Brighton so he’s an option there as well. He’s been very good, he hasn’t looked out of place in training.”

Connolly thought his call-up was a prank when Mccarthy phoned him and the Ireland boss laughed yesterday: “There’s a number of people who take me off fairly

well!.” SHANE DUFFY is a confirmed starter in

Tbilisi with Mick Mccarthy declaring: ‘I’d be bonkers to leave him out’.

After two weeks on the sidelines, Duffy was omitted from the initial 24-man squad only to be supplemented this week following the green light from Brighton.

And after a rest day on Thursday, he trained at the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena in the Georgian capital yesterday (above).

Sheffield United’s John Egan will partner Duffy at centre back and

Mccarthy said: “Shane is fine. I wouldn’t let him train on Thursday. I told him he couldn’t train and he said, ‘Why?’, and I said, ‘Because I said so’.

“I’d been asked by Brighton. He’d done three days in a row, which is fair enough and it was a recovery day.

“I have to say the club have been very good about it, letting him come. I’d like to say thank you to Brighton.”

Duffy – who scored on Ireland’s last visit here in 2017 – has become one of the most important players in the Irish team.

And Mccarthy continued: “He’s fit. He’s just been outstanding and I’d be bonkers to leave him out.”