Sheffield United: Enda Stevens sets sights on becoming Republic of Ireland's first-choice left-back under Mick McCarthy

The 28-year-old is set to earn his latest cap for his country tomorrow evening when McCarthy’s men face Georgia in Dublin, after featuring in their 1-0 victory over Gibraltar on Saturday.

Stevens’ international goal has been made a little more straightforward by Stephen Ward's decision to retire from Republic of Ireland duty, and the Blades full-back was buoyed by a personal phone call from McCarthy soon after he returned to the Irish hotseat to replace Martin O’Neill.

Stevens, though, isn’t expecting to become first-choice too easily.

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“Well, football doesn’t really look like that,” he said.

“The position is up for grabs and it is down to me.

“If I do well and I get a chance, I have to take it. If I don’t, someone else will.

“You’re not given anything. You have to earn and work for it and that’s exactly what me and every single player in the camp has to do.

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“It is a fresh slate and he [McCarthy] is going to base his team on what he sees in training, so you have to make sure you are at it.

“If I am, then I’ll feel like I’ve earned it.

“You don’t earn anything over the course of a season anywhere else.”