Rep of Ireland Striker Keane on Elliott!

Last updated : 18 November 2004 By John Jenkin
Stephen Elliott
Making the grade!
Robbie Keane believes Stephen Elliott has the potential to be a regular in the Rep of Ireland squad. He had this to say.

"It was a hard game for young Stephen to come into considering how windy the conditions were and Brian used him on the right of our three man forward line but I'd say he prefers to play down the centre."

"But the important thing was that he got his first cap and I would say he will go on to get a few more."

"It's a good thing for Irish football to be producing players like Stephen and Aiden McGeady from Celtic."

"When I first came here, the likes of Niall Quinn and Steve Staunton helped me settle and now it's up to me to help Stephen and guys like that. But he fitted well in with the squad."

Former Sunderland winger Kevin Kilbane also added.

"He clearly has a lot of potential. He had an unselfish role to play on Tuesday alongside Robbie and he did well."

Elliott was delighted with his first full cap, as he exlplains.

"It was a great night for me and a fulfilment of everything I have dreamed about. To go out in front of 30,000 people at Lansdowne Road is something I have always wanted to do.

"And to go from reserve team football to the Ireland team in the space of a season is massive for me. It was obviously my biggest day yet and to play with the likes of Robbie Keane and Damien Duff was class.

"All I can do is keep doing what I am doing and score goals at club level and hopefully convince Brian that I am good enough to get more caps in the future."