Brad Lyons: ‘I’m trying to pinch myself’ - Kilmarnock midfielder savours NI debut
- Published
Brad Lyons played for 86 minutes on his first Northern Ireland appearance on Tuesday night
Brad Lyons says it was a "proud moment" to make his Northern Ireland debut in the Euro 2024 qualifier defeat by Slovenia at Windsor Park.
The 26-year-old Kilmarnock midfielder started as 10-man Northern Ireland were edged out 1-0 by the group leaders.
"I'm trying to pinch myself and I don't want it to stop, so I've just got to live in the moment," said Lyons.
"It's a proud moment but as a team it's very frustrating - we deserved something out of the game."
Lyons started his career at Irish League side Coleraine and played on loan for Blackburn Rovers before making the move to Ewood Park permanent in 2019.
Loan spells at St Mirren and Morecambe were followed by Lyons joining Kilmarnock in 2021.
'You have to learn' - O'Neill on young NI players
Adam Cerin's superb free-kick after just five minutes put the Slovenians in front and Northern Ireland's hopes were further hit by the dismissal of Shea Charles on 58 minutes.
"It's tough to concede so early but I feel like the way we reacted to that early goal and the way the fans got behind us shows what we have in that changing room - it shows the passion and the drive that we have and hopefully, as a collective, we can keep kicking on," added Lyons.
"The three points would have been the icing on the cake on my debut, especially at Windsor Park, but it gives me that drive and that incentive to come back, keep pushing on and actually get the three points in another international appearance.
"When you look at what Stuart Dallas has done coming from the Irish League, and even the way Conor McMenamin has broken through the last couple years along with Paul Smyth, it does give you a good feeling that we can all do it. Those type of players give you the real incentive to say, 'why not me as well'?".
When he was asked if his ambition was to keep his place in the starting XI, he replied: "100%, but I know there is a lot of talent in the side and I know I'm competing against a lot of good players.
"So I just need to keep the head down, focus on my club football that I'm now going back to and hopefully that's good enough to retain my shirt at Northern Ireland. I'll never give up and I'll keep fighting for my shirt."
'I can't put it into words'
Eoin Toal also made his senior international debut on Tuesday night, starting beside skipper Jonny Evans in the middle of the Northern Ireland defence.
"I found out I was starting the game earlier in the day, it was a brilliant feeling and something I can't really put it into words," said the Bolton Wanderers player.
Eoin Toal is hoping for more Northern Ireland caps after his debut against Slovenia
"It was unbelievable to play in front of a full Windsor Park, it's something I've always wanted to do in my career and for it to come now is great and hopefully there are many more to come in the future.
"I want to make as many appearances as possible, but I have to take it camp by camp and hopefully I get the call for next month."
Both players will be hoping to earn their second cap in the final two qualifying games next month against Finland and Denmark.
Northern Ireland sit fifth in Group H with just six points from their eight qualifiers.