Enda Stevens missed out on a lot of international football throughout the last 12 months, and the Sheffield United defender believes that while he was away, there has been a noticeable evolution within the Ireland squad.
Stevens has been the regular left-back throughout the early stages of Kenny's tenure, however, recent injuries have led to a watching brief for the former Shamrock Rovers man.
The Dubliner admitted that he was delighted to return to the squad for the four upcoming fixtures, starting with Armenia on Saturday, having overcome some recent knocks to get back to full fitness.
And while he was recuperating from injury, he has noted that change in the squad, which has added more quality, strength in depth and competition for places ahead of the Nations League campaign.
"I’ve missed the last few camps and there’s a few new faces," said Stevens, speaking at Tuesday’s press conference. "But going off today’s session, they will be adding an awful lot to the squad, a lot of strength in depth. Things are looking good."
James McClean has slotted seamlessly into the left wing-back role in recent months, and Ryan Manning offers the manager another option in the position. While Stevens admits that he is always fearful of losing his place, he welcomes the competition from the other players in the squad.
"You always do [worry about losing your place]," said Stevens. "There’s always someone younger, quicker, stronger, better than you coming up so it keeps you on your toes.
"It’s competition for places, it brings the best out of you and that’s what the manager wants, he wants them headaches."
And not only in his own position, Stevens has seen the squad grow up in front of his own eyes over the course of the past 18 months where the initial younger players coming through are now among the established.
"When he (Kenny) started there were a lot of young lads integrated into it, and they don’t seem to be the young lads anymore.
"There’s always been fresh faces coming in and we have added three or four over the last two camps.
"They have added so much, going from today’s session there’s a lot of positivity there. They are adding a lot of quality and it’s going to be a really strong squad over the summer."
Just days out from #ARMIRL, @Corktod reports from the Ireland camp, with news that @FAIreland are monitoring civil unrest in the Armenian capital, also the launch of a government-backed initiative to help bring defibrillators to over 300 grassroot clubs #RTEsoccer #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/IWolYy8H4z
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) May 31, 2022
As a result, Stevens now feels that we are starting to see the best of what Stephen Kenny set out to achieve, putting in great performances against quality sides.
"The manager has come in and wanted to stamp his authority on [the team], and it’s taken time, but you can really see the progression in how we have played over the last few games.
"You look at the Belgium game, and we were really competitive, in the way that we are playing.
"The proof is starting to come through: we are scoring goals, we’ve scored a lot of goals in recent games and we unbeaten in a good few games, so it’s all positive."
Stevens admits that it is a style that pleases the players as they are encouraged to get forward at all times, play football, but always with an attacking intent.
"He wants end product, but he wants to see it more as an attacking position rather than a defensive position. He wants you higher up the pitch, and when you are higher up the pitch it gives you that freedom to see the game for yourself.
"It's huge because we just want to take the momentum and carry it forward."
"He wants you linking play, shots, goals, he wants end product out of the wing backs and that’s the positive thing that he gives you, the chance to go an express yourself higher up the pitch.
"He wants to be that attacking team, possession based, but he wants to see end product in it, he doesn’t want to just keep the ball for the sake of it. He wants to penetrate and run forward and that’s what a lot of the lads have seen over the last few games.
"And that’s what you play football for. You don’t want to be just camped in defending. There is going to be stages when you have to be like that, grind out results, but he wants us to be on the opposite side, dominating possession and putting teams under pressure."
Looking ahead to the four games where Ireland play back-to-back home games against Ukraine and Scotland before flying to Poland for the reverse fixture with the Ukrainians, Stevens believes that the Boys in Green have the quality and strength of squad to challenge for top spot in the group.
"The manager has said what’s at stake and all we can gain from these four games. It’s huge because we just want to take the momentum and carry it forward.
"There is an opportunity here to go in as a second seed if we win the group. That’s our aim and that’s what we have got to be looking forward to."
Follow Armenia v Republic of Ireland (Saturday, 2pm) via our live blog on rte.ie/sport or on the RTÉ News app. Watch live coverage on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player commencing at 1pm with live radio coverage on RTÉ Radio 1.
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