Mark Sykes: I'm just an Irish player playing for Ireland

Mark Sykes didn't feel particularly courageous when he declared his intention to switch international allegiance from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland back in 2020.

It was, as he puts it now, "an Irish player playing for Ireland... I don't see the problem".

Sykes, who represented the North up to Under-21 level, had to wait until the tail end of 2022 to finally make his debut for Stephen Kenny's team, coming off the bench towards the end of the 1-0 friendly victory over Malta.

In doing so he became the first Belfast man in 76 years to win a cap for the Republic of Ireland, following in the footsteps of dual internationals Jackie Vernon and Jimmy McAlinden.

Ahead of Bristol City's FA Cup tie against Manchester City last month, ITV pundit Roy Keane singled the versatile Sykes out for some praise. "He's obviously a a brave boy, he made a brave decision there," he said. But Sykes is much more philosophical about his journey.

"For me it's more so to do with the family side of things."

"I did see it," he said at Abbottstown on Monday when reminded of Keane's remarks.

"I mean, listen, there are many things that people have said and it's a nice thing I suppose. Yes, [it was] brave in a way as there may be a bit of backlash and people not thinking it was the right thing to do, but I've said in many interviews now that it's not them who is living my life.

"I'm out there putting the sacrifice in and hard work in and I made that decision full well knowing what is going to happen. I knew it was going to be a difficult decision because I feel like if I was to stay, which is something I wouldn't have wanted to do, I feel my foot was already in the door and never being around the Ireland set-up I knew it was going to be difficult.

"But