Long sets 100-cap target but admits his confidence is low
SHANE LONG has declared an intention to reach the 100-cap mark with Ireland and overtake Niall Quinn in the all-time goalscoring charts.
The Southampton attacker has endured another frustrating season at club level, making just seven starts in the league.
He was a 63rd-minute sub for last night’s comfortable win over Fulham, with an injury to his new international colleague Michael Obafemi bumping the 32-year-old back up the pecking order after he sat out the weekend loss to Arsenal.
However, the Tipperary man has indicated he has no intention of stepping aside at international level, although Mick McCarthy ‘s priority since taking over has been in adding depth to his striking department.
The Irish boss has even sounded out Daryl Murphy about a return, with Patrick Bamford giving mixed signals and Obafemi out for the rest of the season. Jon Walters has also missed the majority of this campaign, leaving Long as the only active Irish attacker in the Premier League.
He has 82 caps at the moment and has scored 17 times, with centurion status and catching up with Quinn’s haul of 21 goals in his sights. That would put second behind Robbie Keane.
“To get 100 caps would be amazing for me personally and for my family,” said Long, speaking in the Southampton match programme ahead of the Fulham match.
“It’s going to be hard but it is very possible over the next two to three years to get those 18 caps. There’s a target for goals there as well. That second spot is there for the taking. If I get a hat-trick in the next game, I’ll be searching for 25. I’ll keep trying to push myself. I’ll be forever proud of any chance I get to wear the jersey.”
In a rare interview, Long did admit that his confidence has suffered during a dry period in his career. He has scored just three goals in the past two seasons. The front man said he had taken a break from Twitter in an attempt to ignore any negative feedback.
“I don’t take any notice when I’m doing well and people are praising me so why should I pay attention to all the negative things being said about me?” he said.
“I think the older players can laugh it off but it’s never nice to read, even if you don’t really take any notice. Why put yourself in that position?
“I know the fans of Southampton like the way I work for the team but there’s always that argument, ‘He doesn’t score enough goals’. You’ve got to accept that as well.
“Coming off Twitter has been good for me. I’m my own worst critic, I know what I’ve done well and what I need to improve on. Those people writing on Twitter can’t change it. It’s only me who can change it.
“I’m trying to train hard and improve things that aren’t going right but I think a lot of it is down to confidence. I’ve got to believe in myself first of all and then others will believe in me.”