Ireland's Aaron Connolly issues this brilliant response to Robbie Keane pressure

The Brighton striker was thrust into the international limelight as a 19-year-old by Mick McCarthy as a late substitute in a Euro 2020 qualifier in Georgia almost 13 months ago, but has a chance to establish himself as a fixture under new manager Stephen Kenny, previously his manager at Under-21 level.

That would represent a huge responsibility for a man who is yet to open his account, but he is confident both he and Norwich teenager Adam Idah will cope with having to follow in the footsteps of the nation’s record scorer Robbie Keane.

Connolly said: “I love hearing stuff like that and I love the pressure. It’s nice at 20 years of age and 19 for Adam, to have pressure like that on you and fans and coaches expecting things of you.

“I’m never going to shy away from that. I like the way people put pressure on because it makes you feel wanted and they obviously think you can do something great.

“I’m sure me and Adam will have no problem with that.”

Connolly, who has not started a game for his club since October 3, is hoping for a chance to line up in his favoured central role following David McGoldrick’s retirement from international football.

That could come in Thursday evening’s friendly against England at Wembley as Ireland warm up for their Nations League clashes with Wales and Bulgaria, but even that is a game the youngster insists he will take in his stride after admitting he is too young to understand the excitement older generations feels around the fixture.

He said: “The gaffer touched on it, that Darren Randolph was the only one born back in 1988 when Ireland beat England, so maybe it is a bit lost on me as I don’t really understand most of what has gone on or happened. But I am very excited for it.”

Asked how he would assess his performances for Ireland to date, he said: “I feel like I’ve done all right. Obviously a striker wants to score goals and hopefully if I get that chance to play through the middle, I’ll have more chances to produce goals and create chances.

“It’s been frustrating so far, obviously, not scoring and getting wins, but I think over time that will definitely come.”

The Republic are yet to win in five attempts under their new manager and have scored just one goal in the process, although Connolly insists that is not weighing on minds.

He said: “We know we’re a good team and we know we can score goals, so no, that’s definitely not creeping into anyone’s head.”