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30th March 2023
03:11pm BST

Long, however, says he was hurt when Kenny gave his squad number to striker Idah, who currently has 14 caps and has yet to score for the national team.
The striker, 36, only found out mid-way through an initiation routine that he had lost the squad number to Idah.
"Stephen Kenny called me, Seamus Coleman and Darren Randolph," the Reading striker said.
"He wanted to start a new tradition of welcoming new players, give them their first Ireland jersey.
"I had a little speech saying how proud I was to make my first appearance, just introducing them to the team, which I thought was a great idea.
"So Seamus Coleman steps up, I think he had Dara O'Shea and gives him the number 23 jersey.
"Randolph stepped up, I think it was Caoimhin Kelleher he gave the jersey to, another high number. And then I stepped up and it was Adam Idah.
"And I was delighted because obviously, he's Cork city, he's a bit of a culchie like myself! A young guy, big potential.
"So, I gave a speech and I held up the shirt, and on the back, it was number 9.
https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/1641127212257624083
"I spent so many years trying to earn that number," Long continued.
"That was one of the lowest. I didn’t want to take away from Adam, it was a big moment for him.
"I went straight to the kit man and asked him who picks the numbers. He said, 'The gaffer'. So I knew then that the writing was on the wall."
Long was asked why he didn't walk away from the Ireland set-up after the incident. The Tipperary native that he didn't want to let 'one man' prevent him from playing for the national team.
"When it’s Ireland and it’s your country, you don’t want one man to ruin that for you," Long said.
"I wanted to get every cap I could for my country and enjoy every minute on that pitch, that one was a tough one to swallow."
Long last played for Ireland in 2021 and was not in the most recent squad for the matches against Latvia and France.
Last May, Kenny said Long's international career wasn't finished.
"He's been an amazing player for Ireland, someone we really value as a person in Irish football history," the Ireland manager said.
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