TOM CANNON has admitted that his Ireland debut was bittersweet given it came in a comprehensive defeat.
Cannon, 21, replaced Adam Idah against Portugal on Tuesday and had a good chance to mark his bow with a goal but fired into the sidenetting.
A 3-0 loss was far from ideal but the Leicester Citystriker was pleased to have earned his first cap in front of family and friends after others were left disappointed when he was left on the bench against Hungary a week previously.
Cannon said: “It was bittersweet, it was a proud day for me and my family to make my debut and it was a nice feeling.
“My brothers, my girlfriend, and two mates were all there, it was nice for them to see me make my debut and I am sure they are all proud.
“John spoke to me in midweek, he said I would play here.
“I didn’t get on in the Hungary game, my mum and dad and my auntie were over for that game, it was a good feeling to come on on Tuesday night, especially against Portugal.
“The result was tough but they are a good side, a top team, one of the favourites for the Euros so we learn from it, regroup and go again, I think.
“They have the likes of Ronaldo and Rafael Leao, it’s tough to deal with.
“You have to try and see it off and then take your chances, unfortunately we didn’t do that here. As soon as they got one, they scored a couple, they are a good side and it’s still hard to deal with, we regroup and go again.”
On his chance, he said: “It was tough, it felt like it just didn’t sit right.
“There’s always the next game and it’s England next.”
But there will be concern about that game given they have a squad which is as good if not better than Portugal’s.
Cannon – who turned down an approach from England last year– said: “It’s a good group of lads, a good group, they have good quality players but so have we.
“Come September I am sure the lads will be ready, getting minutes into the legs, we will give it our all, and we have players to come back which will only make the team stronger.
“We’ll look back and see where we went wrong, we will review it at some point, when we look back at the goals we will realise how sloppy they were as mistakes, something we need to look back on and next time, prevent it.”
As well as with Ireland, Cannon is waiting to hear who his club boss will be when he returns for pre-season on July 8, after Enzo Maresca left for Chelsea.
Cannon said: “I will try and get in a few holidays, keep fit and be ready to go when I go back.
“Game time is important, hopefully I can go back and hit the ground running in pre-season and get as many minutes as I can. I back myself always.
“Our manager’s gone to Chelsea, it will be interesting who we appoint, all I can do is go back and try to impress in pre-season and go from there.”
He would be happy to see John O’Shea appointed as Stephen Kenny’s permanent successor and he hopes to be joined in the international squad by Foxes team-mate Kasey McAteer who has declared for Ireland.
Cannon said: “John is a great guy and a good manager, even before this camp I had a few positive phone calls with him, then him bringing me in and giving me my debut, I can’t thank him enough.
“I will be having words with Kasey when I get back, I actually spoke to him during this camp, he had a tough season with injuries, he did his hamstring a couple of times, so it was important he just rested up to be ready to go next season.”