Emmet Malone talks to Andy O'Brien who has no regrets about throwing in his lot with Ireland and is prepared to play a bit part this time around.

For the majority of this Ireland squad the next few weeks represent a journey into the great unknown. Most watched the Republic's last outing at a major finals on television and Andy O'Brien had not even signed professional forms at the time of USA '94.

Now, as he considers the prospect of playing even a bit part this time around the young defender looks quietly thrilled. "Whether it's to carry the bags, sit on the bench or play in the games," says the 22-year-old serenely, "it's just fantastic to be here."

O'Brien is at a slight disadvantage on the score of memories of previous Irish World Cup odysseys, having been brought up in England, but he insists that he has no doubts now that his decision five years ago to opt for the Republic has turned out for the best.

"Even if I'd never come to a World Cup it would have been the right thing for me to do," he says. "I was lucky to have experienced both camps and liked the Irish one much more, everything that's happened since has just reinforced the feeling that I was doing the right thing."

The pace he possesses is in short supply in this Irish defence and O'Brien may still end up partnering a man at the other end of the career arc, Steve Staunton, at some point over the weeks ahead.

However, he realises, he says, that the fairytale of his last year or so in football may not quite run to that.

"Just to be here is a dream in itself and I know how well the lads in front of me have done. At 22 years of age I know I can get better.

"It's a question now of making sure that I achieve that and I'm hoping that the experience I gain on this trip will go some way towards helping me.

"Already, though, I like to think I've proven a few people wrong. I know when Newcastle bought me I didn't look one of their most exciting buys. Alain Goma had gone a few days earlier for £4 million and then I arrive for £1 million.

"They say that your transfer fee is some reflection on your ability but I hope that I've looked like a player that might have cost more than my fee and that I've shown that there are other players, David Connolly's a good example, who are at smaller clubs or the lower divisions but who could cope with the step up.

"After that you start to improve naturally because at a club like Newcastle, say, you are training with great players every day and then there are so many others that you play against in the Premier League."

There are precious few duffers (as opposed to Duffers) at a World Cup finals and O'Brien is hoping to return home having learned something at least from what could always end up being, he concedes, his only visit to a major international tournament

Then, it seems, there will be fresh competition at St James' Park for the word is that after the end of Sylvain Distin's loan period and his departure for Maine Road the club will sign another centre back.

"I don't believe everything I read in the papers," O'Brien says, grinning, "but that seems to be the story and if it isn't Sylvain then it'll be somebody else.

"Whoever it is it doesn't change anything. It's just like here, you just have to work hard every day to get in the team."