Dara O'Shea admits it has been "tough" being asked to fill Shane Duffy's boots for Ireland - as much as he's loving the experience.
Duffy was Ireland's skipper in the absence of Seamus Coleman since the autumn.
But after losing his form and confidence at loan from Brighton to Celtic, the Derry man lost his place to young Dub O'Shea in Wednesday's World Cup qualifier loss to Serbia, with Stephen Kenny preferring the West Brom defender in a 3-5-2 formation.
"It’s tough," said O'Shea. "Shane Duffy has been unreal for this country.
"He is obviously someone I’ve grown up watching and admiring.
"Obviously when you get put in there it’s a huge opportunity for me. It’s great to play, but Shane is an amazing player.”
And the system? “I felt very comfortable," said O'Shea. "It was very natural to be fair.
"We hadn’t to really work too much on it. We’d been doing bits on it, but it’s not the same as playing a game.
"As a whole it worked really well and I felt really comfortable. The two lads beside me helped me out really well.”
O'Shea, 22, was only three years of age when Ireland last played in a World Cup.
So to be chosen to play in the first qualifier of this campaign in his first senior international appearance, albeit the game ended in a 3-2 defeat, was "unbelievable," he said.
"Every kid grows up wanting to play for their country. Watching the World Cup at home, it’s something you aspire to get to.
"To be in with a chance of playing for my country in World Cup qualifiers and to help the nation to get there is unreal.”
But Ireland need to pick up that first win under Kenny now, with Luxembourg coming to the Aviva Stadium tomorrow night.
"When you lose a game you want to bounce back as quickly as possible," O'Shea acknowledged.
"We have a game on Saturday and a great opportunity at home to get three points. It’s something that we need.
"I think there's a real buzz around training, a real buzz around the team hotel.
"Obviously when everyone comes in to play for their country, there is a great feeling of pride too, and I think everyone is really looking forward to this game.
"We thought we played well in parts on Wednesday."
