Shane Duffy is backing Caoimhín Kelleher to continue where Gavin Bazunu left off after Ireland's first-choice goalkeeper was ruled out of the friendly clashes with Belgium and Lithuania through illness.
With Bournemouth's Mark Travers already departed from the Ireland camp due to injury, the way is clear for 23-year-old Liverpool stopper Kelleher to start on Saturday and Tuesday at the Aviva Stadium.
Stephen Kenny drafted in Bohemians netminder James Talbot yesterday and today added Bristol City's Max O'Leary to the squad as cover for Kelleher, who has two senior caps.
His last appearance for Ireland was in the 4-0 victory over Qatar in October and he joined up with Stephen Kenny's squad a day late on Tuesday, after overcoming illness, and full of confidence after his Carabao Cup final heroics against Chelsea at Wembley.
Asked if Kelleher was now being wrapped in cotton wool at training, centre-back Duffy smiled: “Nah, we have three (goalkeepers), the two lads coming in now they have a chance.
"Everyone needs a bit of luck and that’s what they have, they are in the squad and we trust them. Caoimhín is in a good position now, he needed a bit of luck.
"Gavin has performed unbelievably for us and he’s going to be a miss.
"But football is about taking chances, hopefully Caoimhín will come in and does what he does for Liverpool.
"We are a bit lucky in that position."
Saturday's clash with Belgium is a sell-out occasion and Duffy believes that is a reflection of the progression made by Ireland over the past year.
"It’s been an exciting time for the fans," said the Brighton defender.
"Everyone wanted to get back in the stadiums, and you don’t get many bigger than Belgium coming to town, so it’s one we are all looking forward to and we’re all excited by.”
“The squad the manager’s built over the last year anyone can come in and produce and play, that’s the trust we have among the group. In the last few games we’ve had a bit of continuity in the team and it’s worked.
"The trust is there, we had a camp last summer in Spain and from that moment on it’s been similar squads and the same players.
"When you play together for longer it gets better and that’s how it’s been over the year. Every time I come in it’s same faces and it’s exciting.
“There's always pressure when you play for Ireland, that's why it's the top level of the game and that's why the players stay at this level, you've got to embrace it, enjoy it and take it on, that's what we're in the game for, to have full houses for your country.
"I don't think there's much better than it.
“So pressure, yeah, but the confidence we have and the group we've had together, it's one we're all excited for and if you don't enjoy that then you're in the wrong sport."
It is something that Duffy had to deal with on a personal basis when he lost his place at Brighton and endured a nightmare loan spell at Celtic.
However he bounced back this season on his return to the Premier League club.
"It’s been alright, a good start to the season and then a little bit of a slow start after Christmas with Covid and I had ankle surgery, so it was trying to get back to fitness.
"But I'm feeling good, feeling sharp and happy to be playing football again regularly. So yeah, I'm all good.”
Asked how he handled the situation, the 30-year-old replied: “Good family, good friends, good people around you who pick you up when you're down.
“I think if you speak to the majority of footballers, there's low points in your career and that was me and you've just got to have the mental strength to come out of it and bounce back and believe in your ability.
"And that's what I've done, I've knuckled down and I've got a smile back on my face, I'm enjoying it again. So that's it, there's no secret there, I'm just back being happy.”
The Derry man insists that Ireland will move on from the loss of Kenny's highly regarded assistant Anthony Barry, with Duffy singing the praises of Barry's replacement John Eustace, the QPR number two who joined the Ireland set-up this week.
“Yeah listen, I can only speak well about Anthony, he was great for the team and the culture but football moves and people come and go, that's a part of the game.
“John has been great this week, he has fitted right in with us and it's quite exciting again now to have different ideas to add to what we've already got.
“So for me, I've got full respect for Anthony but really excited about what John can bring to us and see where we can go from here. If we can add to what we've already got then it's exciting times.”
