We've been saying for years that Shane Long is Ireland's answer to Luis Suarez, but without the biting, and the racial abuse, and as many goals, or as many assists.
But apart from that they're almost identical.
Finally on Saturday confirmation of our long held view arrived as Long became the first player since Suarez in December 2013 to score two goals and provide two assists in a single game.
Long's Suarez-esque display came in Southampton's 6-1 trouncing of Aston Villa.
As long as Long keeps channeling the spirit of the Barcelona striker into Ireland's Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland in June then everything should be just fine.
https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/599551701356523522
Now all we need is the statistical evidence that Wes Hoolahan is just as good as Lionel Messi.
