RANDOLPH: IRISH CAMP IS BUOYANT

DARREN RANDOLPH insists morale is high in the Ireland camp despite the Euros shootout defeat in Slovakia and Covid fallout.

Preparations for tonight’s Nations League clash in Finland have been far from ideal with two positive cases among ong the squad and four r close contacts ruled out.

But the West Ham goalkeeper is encouraging the young guns drafted into the squad in the last 48-hours to seize their chance and flourish.

Uncapped Dara O’shea and Jason Knight were called up from the Under-21s while Ryan Manning and Ronan Curtis are also in the mix.

Jayson Molumby can build on his two caps while Aaron Connolly and Adam Idah return after their controversial absence from the Slovakia game.

Randolph said: “Morale is high and the manager will back me up on this. We’re bringing in good players that also deserve to be in the squad.

“It’ll be a chance for the young players coming through to show what they can do and prove to everybody why they were picked and why they belong here.

“It can be the start of their international journey, which can be a very good one, but it also goes very quicklyy – I’m at the other eend of the scale to some of the younger ones.

“But despite the loss on pepenalties and ththe last game (0-0 with Wales), we’ve performed well.” Randolph added: “We’ve had chances - we’re not coming in off the back of getting hammered in two games and losing both of them.

“We’ve actually played some good football and had some great chances, so morale is high.

“It’s been tough, but it’s a time now where you need to get together as a group and prepare to work for each other.

“Put the head down and tackle the hard time ahead.”

Morale is high & the gaffer will back me up on that.. it’s just the start..