Saturday 26 May 2018 16:39, UK
Alan Browne is confident he has what it takes to establish himself as an international footballer ahead of Republic of Ireland's friendly against France on Monday.
The 23-year-old Preston midfielder made his first international start in a 1-0 friendly defeat in Turkey in March, and is hungry for further chances to test himself at the highest level.
Browne's could feature at the Stade de France on Monday evening when Ireland travel to face Les Bleus and the prospect of testing himself against Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante and Blaise Matuidi is one he is relishing.
He said: "It's probably not the biggest game I'd have played in terms of rewards at the end of it considering it's a friendly, but it's certainly the biggest game I'd have played in, in terms of quality.
"Everybody knows the quality that the France team possesses and they will be really giving it a go to win it [the World Cup] outright. They will be raring to go, I'd imagine, and it's just a chance for us to stake a claim in the team, and we will give it our all.
"I think people doubt us at times, but I see the quality that the boys here possess every day and I think we're more than capable of taking on any team."
Browne made his Ireland debut as a substitute in a 3-1 friendly defeat by Mexico in New Jersey last summer and is keen to impress manager Martin O'Neill ahead of the first matches of the UEFA Nations League later this year.
He added: "I don't think I've shown what I'm really capable of in the international set-up, but I'm confident of my own ability and I think I can go and show that in the near future.
"I know the other lads will be raring to do the same given the chance and with the Nations League coming up, it's a real chance for all the boys to really stake a claim for that shirt and make it their own."
