Shane Long targets Premier League

Ireland’s man of the match against Norway, Shane Long, wants to be playing Premier League football in the near future.

Long was impressive on Tuesday night, winning and scoring a first half penalty kick.

“I landed on the ball and there was no-one taking it from me,” the 23-year-old said.

'It was never said who was on penalties. Glenn Whelan was the obvious option. He asked me if I fancied it and I said yes, and that was it.

“I know if I had missed, he would have had words to say, so it was nice just to stick it away in the corner.”

Long wants to play in the Premier League next season and hopes to achieve that aim by helping Reading to get promoted.

“Reading are doing well at the moment,” he said. “We are three points off fourth position and we are scoring lots of goals, but we are conceding them as well at the moment.

“We are playing well week in, week out and we definitely have a good enough squad - young, but good enough - to get into the play-offs at least and push for that Premier League position.

“That's where it is all at.”