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Callum Robinson is convinced the Republic of Ireland are heading in the right direction despite their disappointing Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.<\/p>\n
Ireland will not be in Germany for next summer\u2019s finals \u2013 barring an unlikely series of results elsewhere which could hand them a second chance via the play-offs \u2013 after taking just six points from their first seven Group B fixtures, with just a tough trip to the Netherlands next month to come.<\/p>\n
That has left manager Stephen Kenny fighting for his job, but Cardiff striker Robinson believes the foundations the 51-year-old has put in place since succeeding Mick McCarthy in April 2021 could yet pay dividends.<\/p>\n
Speaking after Monday night\u2019s 4-0 victory over Gibraltar in Faro, the 28-year-old said: \u201cThere\u2019s so much potential and it\u2019s a hard one for everybody to hear, but I think we\u2019ve come a long way, football-wise.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow it\u2019s getting over the other side by getting wins and three points. It\u2019s been disappointing that we haven\u2019t got the results we wanted, but if you look from the time the gaffer came in, it\u2019s been chalk and cheese. We\u2019re playing much better football.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it\u2019s about bringing all of it together, being the team that\u2019s hard to beat, scores goals and get wins.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kenny\u2019s masterplan has been to overhaul his squad \u2013 he has handed out 20 debuts and used 52 different players in his time at the helm \u2013 with many of the newcomers elevated from the under-21 ranks.<\/p>\n
We nicked results, but it wasn\u2019t enjoyable to watch<\/p>\n
The average age of the starting line-up at the Estadio Algarve was a little under 25.4; that figure was in excess of 28.8 for McCarthy\u2019s final fixture against Denmark in November 2019.<\/p>\n
However, whatever progress Kenny believes has been made has not been reflected in results, with the win in Faro just his sixth in 28 competitive matches and only one of note, a 3-0 Nations League victory over Scotland.<\/p>\n
But Robinson said: \u201cI can remember when I first joined the squad, everyone was saying that we weren\u2019t playing enough football, just hitting it up there and hoping.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not so long ago, only five years ago. We nicked results, but it wasn\u2019t enjoyable to watch. Now we\u2019re playing good football and it\u2019s about bringing that balance, being good in both boxes.\u201d<\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CyeHAGgo5fp<\/p>\n
Robinson was one of Ireland\u2019s goalscorers in Faro, marking the latest stage in his re-emergence from a long-term hamstring injury which was followed by a back problem and in the meantime, he has seen 18-year-old Evan Ferguson, who also found the back of the net on Monday evening, take his chance with both hands.<\/p>\n
Asked about the competition, the older man said: \u201cThat\u2019s football and he\u2019s flying. I\u2019m here to help. It\u2019s competition and we\u2019ll push each other.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a young kid, but is coming on leaps and bounds watching him week in, week out and he\u2019s been nominated for the (European) Golden Boy (Award).<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s level-headed and if he stays the way he is off the pitch, he\u2019ll have an unbelievable career.\u201d<\/p>\n