Robbie Keane has opened Callum O’Dowda’s eyes as to what’s required to make it as an international.
They only shared the pitch once as Ireland players and that was in Keane’s last appearance - against Oman in 2016 - before he retired his green jersey.
But they have been pitched together again under Mick McCarthy although O’Dowda is making up for lost time.
A knee injury ruled him out of the March wins over Gibraltar and Georgia, but he travelled over for the FAI awards before the first game just to meet the new boss.
But the recent training camp in Portugal was the first opportunity for O’Dowda to work in earnest with McCarthy and Keane, now the assistant manager and coach.
And it’s not just the strikers that are hoping to benefit from the country’s record cap holder and goal scorer being on the management ticket.
"He's still got it, I'll tell you that,” said Bristol City winger O’Dowda. “Even in training when you watch him, he's fantastic - just as he was a fantastic player.
"’I’ve asked him how he’s finding it as a coach. He obviously misses playing but he's someone you definitely look up to.
"As soon as he opens his mouth, you want to listen to him given the level that he has played at and what he has done for the country.
“It's phenomenal really and on the coaching side he has been good. As a striker, he knows that they want.
“For me, as a wide player, he knows the service that strikers want. It's the little things like that and mentally as well, he gets into your head and he’s good to have around.”
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