DERRY man James McClean said he wanted to play "every minute" for his country in the aftermath of the Republic of Ireland's final warm-up game before Euro 2016.
Ireland lost 2-1 to Belarus in Cork on Tuesday night, with manager Martin O'Neill naming his final 23-man squad shortly after the game in which McClean was named along with fellow midfielder James McCarthy and veteran striker Robbie Keane, despite injury concerns surrounding the latter two.
It was a lethargic and disjointed display from the Irish, but McClean was nevertheless happy to be on the Turner’s Cross pitch: "We got some minutes under our belt, a bit of sharpness," the West Brom winger said.
"That’s the only kind of positive we can take from tonight. It’s been a great campaign. This here tonight, it’s a friendly. You don’t want to lose, but you would rather lose here than lose on the 13th [June 13] against Sweden. I’ll take three points against Sweden if we lose tonight. It’s not how you want to sign off, but it is what it is and we’ll move on.
"Every player selected wants to play. I’m no different. I want to play every minute and I’m sure everybody else does, so hopefully I have put food for thought in his [Martin O’Neill] mind over that period of time and come the first game, hopefully I’m selected.
McClean had words of comfort for those who were set to miss the cut in O’Neill’s finals squad: "It’s obviously special if you’re on the plane and it’s obviously gut wrenching if you’re not, so I would say there will be a few down lads tonight,” he said.
“Hopefully their time comes - whoever is not selected."
Meanwhile, Aston Villa defender Ciaran Clark, who was named man of the match at the home of Cork City, said: "A few of the lads haven't played for a while now and it was a good chance for everyone to get some minutes under their belt before going into the tournament.
"That's it now and we're all going to get ready and recover now and hopefully no-one picked up any injuries in the game and everyone will be fit for selection."
