Troy Parrott's contribution against Lithuania was not game-changing just because of his excellent last-gasp winner.
The Republic of Ireland youngster offered more movement up front than Will Keane, the fellow League One player he replaced on 63 minutes.
His goal brings his senior international total up to three, having opened his account with a brace against Andorra last summer.
The Tottenham forward will return to MK Dons where he has been on loan this season with a pep in his step.
Yet, while he's still at a very formative age, Parrott's obvious potential means there are crossroads coming up for the 20-year-old.
Former Ireland and Sunderland striker Stephen Elliott joined the RTÉ Soccer Podcast to review both the Belgium and Lithuania friendlies and naturally, Parrott's current status for Ireland and what lies in the future at club level in the medium term was up for discussion.
"I just felt Keane was a little bit static at times and I think we saw when Troy Parrott came on he was the first player to try and make those clever darts behind," Elliott said of the Irish attack against Lithuania.
"When Troy Parrott came on he made a massive difference and there's no coincidence that we started to get more attemps at goal and looking more like we were going to score."
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Parrott's ability to play across the front line from the flanks to a deeper role as well as leading the line is coupled with a technical level that few in the current Ireland squad possess, according to Elliott, who feels Kenny has done well in being protective of a player who appears to have a "mature head on his shoulders".
"It was the technical ability to score the goal. There's not many players in that Ireland squad that would have that kind of technical ability to go and do that," he said.
"Even the volley that the keeper saved not long before his goal was great technique. That's quality that he has and we're not privileged enough at the moment to have a lot of players in the Ireland squad that are capable of doing things like that.
"So we have to be careful with him to make sure that he is coming into the squads confident because as we saw last night, he could be an absolute diamond in this squad going forward and I think Stephen Kenny will be fully aware of that and is probably being clever with him [by] not starting [Parrott in] the games with him being so young."
Parrott's loan at MK Dons is due to end when this season finishes but what is next for him is unclear under Antonio Conte at his parent club with Spurs' transfer plans and eventual pecking order up front uncertain until Harry Kane's future is sorted.
"It wouldn't be the worst case scenario to go for another year on loan. He's only 20 years of age so he's still only a young pup and he's had a lot of hype on his shoulders from a fairly young age which is probably not the greatest of things," said Elliott.
"Maybe go on loan, maybe play in the Championship next year. I know MK Dons have a really good chance of getting promoted, they're running down Wigan and Rotherham for the automatic positions as well so potentially there could be something there if MK do get promoted and decide to keep him on at a Championship level.
"I don't think it would be a disaster for him to go on loan again next year and get more regular football because whether he'd get the regular football at Spurs with what they have now at their disposal, it would be surprising. But it wouldn't do him any harm to go out on loan again.
"This will give him confidence, this goal last night, going back to the club."
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