Shamrock Rovers' Jack Byrne has earmarked his old pal Albert Rusnak as a danger man for Slovakia in the upcoming Euro playoff.
Rovers ace Byrne has the inside track on the attacker ahead of the 23-man Ireland squad announcement this Friday.
These days, Rusnak is playing in the MLS for Real Salt Late but he was a regular throughout Slovakia’s Euro 2020 qualifying campaign.
And the left-sided player - who has 24 caps - could be a game changer for the hosts, according to Byrne who spent five years with him in City’s youth set-up.
Byrne, 23, said: “He’s two years older than me but because I went over early and played in the Under-18s younger than the rest, I got to know him.
“Patrick Vieira loved him when they worked together at City. We also played in the same reserve team.
“It was his move to SC Cambuur which opened up the link for me to get my loan move to Holland.
“I then played against him over there when he was at Groningen. That’s a derby game and he got an unbelievable reception from the Cambuur fans.”
Byrne recently hooked up with Rusnak during a holiday in Dubai but the playoff semi-final was strictly off limits.
Byrne continued: “Albert stayed in digs with (Irish goalkeeper) Ian Lawlor for a few years because they were the same age and Ian and myself used to hang around with him.
“He was on a break from Major League Soccer and travelled to Dubai with his wife and child. We got to meet up and have a chat.
“But I didn’t say anything to him about the Slovakia match yet. There’ll be a bit of banter leading up to the match if I get picked, fingers crossed.
“Hopefully he’s involved too but he’s a top, top player - a very good footballer and if Albert plays, he’ll be a threat for them.
“He’s not a striker, more of a left winger. He might play as a false nine for them. He drifts inside because he can play anywhere. Albert is a creative player with an eye for goal.”
Ahead of Friday’s squad announcement, Ireland boss Mick McCarthy admits that Byrne’s red-hot form will be difficult to ignore.
The playmaker bagged a stunning winner in the Hoops 3-2 win over Dundalk and then capped a man-of-the-match display with a goal in Saturday’s win away to Sligo Rovers.
And McCarthy said yesterday: “If Jack is in the squad on Friday – and there’s every chance he will – then he’ll be in on form.
“He’s playing consistently well at present. Jack’s been with us for the past year and he’s developing as we want him to.
“He has a spark about him and can do something a little bit different. That could be very handy in a tight play-off game.”
