Raivis Jurkovskis could be handed a key role in Dundalk’s bid for a win over SSE Airtricity Premier Division champions Shamrock Rovers on Friday night - despite his international exploits over this past week.
Jurkovskis starred in Latvia’s 3-3 draw away to Turkey on Tuesday, providing an assist for Roberts Savalnieks’ first-half strike.
He also played the full 90 minutes in each of their previous Group G qualifiers, which ended in defeat to Montenegro and the Netherlands.
The 24-year-old jetted back into Dublin at 10am on Wednesday, direct from Istanbul, leaving the Dundalk coaching staff with a dilemma.
Will he be physically up for the Hoops clash? Or should he be rested for next week’s game against Bohemians?
“He's had three 90 minutes in seven days and such is his style of play I'd say he's done about 13k a game I'd imagine,” said manager Shane Keegan.
“So there'll have to be a fair assessment done to see how he is.
“But he is a machine so there's every chance with him.
“The fact he'll only have one session with the group as well is something that will need to be factored in terms of the decision making.
“Any normal player you'd probably rule them out but he is a machine so I think he'll stand a good chance.”
Keegan watched Latvia’s match with Turkey and was impressed by the Lilywhites’ new signing.
“Did you see him last night? Oh my god. He was incredible,” he exclaimed.
“We were just joking below saying every single time the ball went out to the winger, he took off on an overlap or an inside lap run that was about 100 metres in length each time.
“You're screaming at him, ‘No, put on the brakes please, stop stop, stop’, but he was brilliant and his assist for their goal was outstanding, absolutely outstanding.
Keegan reckons Jurkovskis, if given the choice himself, would opt to play tomorrow night.
“I think we will stand a great chance because he doesn't say a whole lot,” said the Oriel Park coach, “but I am sure when we ask him how he is, he will just say 'fine'.”
“He must be one of the most low-maintenance footballers I’ve ever encountered.
“He just comes in every day, doesn’t really open his mouth all day long, just gets on with his work and any question we ask him always has a one-word answer and it’s always positive.
“He’s about as low maintenance as you could ask for, he’s a dream in that sense.”
Jurkovskis wasn’t the only Dundalk player on international duty this past window.
New centre-half Sonni Nattestad scored the opener for the Faroe Islands’ in their 3-1 defeat to Austria.
Nattestad, who was set to feature against Scotland last night, is suspended for both the Rovers and Bohs games following his red card in the President’s Cup win over the Hoops.
