Versatile Bosun Lawal still on for doing a job anywhere ahead of U-21s Euro qualifier against San Marino

He has played in the midfield and now operates mainly as a defender.

Bosun Lawal, however, will play anywhere. On Friday last, he was at the centre of a back three as the Republic of Ireland Under-21 side opened their Euro 2025 qualifying campaign with a 3-2 win over Turkey at Turner's Cross.

Aidomo Emakhu's injury-time goal gave Jim Crawford's side victory in what was a thrilling encounter on Leeside, where Lawal made his first competitive start for the U-21s.

This evening at the same Cork city venue, San Marino are the opposition as the Irish aim to make it two wins from two.

"The manner in which we won makes it that bit special," said Lawal, when speaking to the media on last Friday's win.

"We know we're a talented bunch and we can give any team a good go. After the equaliser I knew straight away we could get the win and thankfully we did.

"Even when we went a goal down they (the boisterous Turner's Cross crowd) were cheering us on and gave us motivation. There is a resilience in the group. We showed everyone we got that fight in us. The first couple of games are very important to lay down a marker and start as you mean to go on.

Twenty-year-old Lawal, whose parents are from Nigeria, is "Irish through and through" and revealed that all he ever wanted to do "was play football". His career began with stints at St Kevin's Boys and Bohemians, before he joined Watford, then in the Premier League, in 2019.

Two years later, he signed for Celtic and recently penned a new long-term contract with the club until 2026. He made his debut for the Bhoys in the Scottish Cup win over Greenock Morton last January. For this campaign he has been loaned out to League One club Fleetwood Town.

"The old gaffer [Anges Postecoglou] did have faith in me