SOCCER/Euro 2008 Qualifying Group D/San Marino v Republic of Ireland: Such has been the impression made by Shane Long on those who have watched him on a field of play that the latter half of his teenage years have been littered with promotions to the next level before he has really had the opportunity to fully establish his worth at the one below.
Crucially, it seems, however, there are no recorded complaints from anyone who has taken a chance on his talents.
At the Stadio Olimpico di Serravalle yesterday in San Marino, Steve Staunton joined Long's growing band of willing punters with the manager confirming his decision to hand the 19-year-old his international debut at a time when his senior club career still seems, for all the attention he has received, to be in its infancy.
Having arrived at Reading from Gortnahoe in Tipperary via Cork City for some €37,500 just 18 months ago, the young striker's potential is clearly enormous and Staunton is hoping he will take another small step towards fulfilling it in the picturesque setting of a hillside state surrounded by northern Italy.
The bulk of Long's appearances for Reading have come from the bench, but having impressed on those occasions he has been handed the opportunity to start more games since Steve Coppell's and Staunton's first choice, Kevin Doyle, picked up a hamstring injury last month.
Three goals in five matches later, the youngster is reckoned to have earned a crack at filling in for his friend in a European qualifier, albeit one the Irish must be considered almost unbackable favourites to win.
The same, of course, might have been said before the Republic faced Liechtenstein at Eschen in June, 1995, but even on what looks a tight pitch, in what are similarly unfamiliar surroundings, it is pretty much unthinkable that the generally strong Irish side named yesterday will not prevail fairly comfortably tonight.
"It's a small stadium all right," said captain Robbie Keane after a lively training session at the venue yesterday morning, "but all the lads know what it's like to play in places like this, we all grew up playing in small grounds for youth teams. It's always nice to play in big stadiums in front of big crowds, but we all know that the job here tomorrow is to go out and get a result and that's not a problem."
An early lead would make the entire affair a good deal less nerve-racking for all concerned in the Irish camp, and Long, said Staunton, got the nod to partner Keane ahead of Andy Keogh and Anthony Stokes because, "he has been playing in the Premiership and scoring goals", which, given the options available to him, seems a sound enough basis for the selection.
"He's a strong boy who is good in the air," continued the Ireland manager. "He's got a bit of presence about him and, obviously, he's full of confidence at the moment which has shown in training."
Similarly favoured on the basis of his current club form is Stephen Ireland with the 20-year-old handed the job of partnering Lee Carsley in central midfield from where he will be expected to help propel those around him forward.
"What I'm looking for from Stephen is for him to play his natural game, to do what he's been doing for Manchester City where he's been controlling games, dominating midfield and nicking the odd goal," said Staunton.
Elsewhere in the team there are the expected old reliables, albeit slightly reshuffled, with John O'Shea reverting to centre back alongside Richard Dunne, Steve Finnan starting in his more familiar right-back role and Damien Duff again switching to the right flank in order to accommodate Kevin Kilbane's inclusion.
This will be Kilbane's 41st consecutive competitive international, a remarkable achievement by the recently turned 30-year-old who, insists his latest international manager, "has never let me down".
A minor surprise is the omission of Paul McShane, the young West Brom defender who made such an impact against the Czech Republic and who went on to earn a penalty against San Marino in last November's 5-0 win for the Irish.
A minor ankle injury combined with the fact he is on a yellow card and might easily miss the game against Wales next month persuaded Staunton to leave him out on this occasion, although he is likely to be on the bench.
The threat of suspension, though, also looms large over several other members of the side with Ireland, Keane, O'Shea, Kilbane, Dunne and Carsley all a booking away from a ban.
"The lads all know the consequences of taking a card," said Staunton yesterday. "They'll miss the first game in Croke Park and somebody else will get their chance."
A more dramatic turn of events this evening would rekindle speculation regarding a similar sort of upheaval at management level, but the reality is that the Irish players should fly home this evening with their position in Group D sufficiently improved so that a win over Wales could, in theory at least, put them in a top-two position as their campaign hits the half-way mark.
SAN MARINO (probable): F Valentini; C Valentini, Albani, Michele Marani, Simoncini, Vannucci; Andreini, Manuel Marani, Muccioli; Bugli; Selva.
