Shane Long said he knew he would not have a long-term future with the Republic of Ireland under Stephen Kenny after he was asked to pass his No.9 shirt to Adam. Idah unwittingly

Tipperary has 88 caps for his country, but he has been left out of the picture in the past two years by a wave of young attacking players.

Long has not played for Ireland since the friendly against Qatar in June 2021.

Speaking on the ‘Kay And Ash, Share Your Voice’ podcast hosted by his wife Kayleigh, Long shared stories from the early days of Kenny’s reign, suggesting that “The writing is on the wall” in terms of his international future.

“It’s too late in my career in Ireland,” said the 36-year-old. You get a high number in the Ireland team.

“I remember Kevin. Doyle’s No. 9, Richie Dunn’s No. 5, Robbie Keane’s No. 9. Back in the years, Gary Kelly’s No. 2, Ian Harte’s No. 3. You got a number on the team.

“When Kevin [Doyle] retired from national football and went to America, I got the number 9 shirt, I’m very proud to have that number. And I’ve been using it for years.”

“Stephen Kenny called me into the team. He calls me Seamus Coleman and Darren Randolph. He wants to start a new tradition of welcoming new players. Gave them their first Ireland shirt. I have a few words to say how proud I am to have done it. my first appearance Just introduce them to the team. which i think is a good idea

“So Seamus Coleman stepped up, I think he had Star O’Shea and gave him the No.23 shirt. Randolph stepped up. I think it was Caoimhin Kelleher that he gave me this shirt. another high number Then I stepped up, it was Adam Idah, and I was delighted because he was clearly from Cork. He was a bored man like me, a young man, with great potential.

“So I gave a speech and held up my shirt. And on the back is the number 9, I remember just handing that shirt over. I want to break out of that room. And if it’s at the club level I must have left.” That must have been me. I don’t want to part with Adam.

“That was the manager at the press conference. I called Kayleigh, she was my referee and she was furious too. Adam did not show up in Ireland. He didn’t get a shirt.

“I spent years trying to figure out that number. which is one of the lowest numbers I don’t want to part with Adam. It was a big moment for him. I went straight to the picker and asked him who had chosen it. numbers and he said boss So I knew there was writing on the wall.”

last May Kenny left the door open for Long to return to the pitch saying, “He’s an incredible player from Ireland. He is someone we value as a figure in the history of Irish football.”