International delight for Delaney

Last updated : 31 May 2008 By Simon Davies

The 26-year-old QPR full-back made his Republic of Ireland debut last weekend and followed it up with a second cap on Thursday night as Ireland beat Columbia at Craven Cottage.

Delaney will now hope to remain in the Giovanni Trapattoni's plans for the friendly in Norway in August ahead of tough World Cup qualifiers in Georgia and Montenegro.

He said: "I can't wait for it. God being good, hopefully I will be there or thereabouts in the squad.

"When I showed up in Dublin two weeks ago, I was genuinely expecting just to make up the numbers, maybe sit in the stand and watch a couple of games and just get an experience.

"But lo and behold, I was thrown in from the start and and I started both games. I am really pleased and I can't wait to get off for my summer holidays."

Delaney was given an early indication of just what to expect when the serious business of qualification comes around by a talented Colombian outfit which forced Ireland to defend resolutely.

He said: "They are a very slick side, probably the slickest side I have ever played against. They moved the ball very quickly and they were very quick players.

"But we kept going and we dug in. We were nice and solid and we did okay in the end. The main thing was the win, for the manager as well. I think that's why he didn't make so many changes.

"He wanted to make some changes during the game, but with the way the game was going, he wanted to get his first win as Irish manager and get a monkey off his back because if he didn't get the win, people would have been saying, 'When is he going to get a win?'.

"But he got his win and he kept his side the same and it's been great for everyone."

Trapattoni was satisfied with the first phase of his mission as he sent the players away for the summer with individual action plans.

Delaney for one has been hugely impressed by the 69-year-old's approach.

He added: "The manager's attention to detail is massive. It is all about small, little things with him.

"He thinks a lot of the players have the main bulk of what they need, and it is just little things like set-pieces are massively important for the team. He is big on the small things."