Seamus Coleman says the fire within himself is still burning as bright as ever as the Republic of Ireland captain faces into the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.
The Everton skipper, who was on the bench for the 2-1 defeat to Norway on Thursday at the Aviva Stadium, was speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday's second friendly of the November window in Malta.
Coleman missed most of the June window due to injury and subsequently underwent groin surgery in the summer, returning for Everton in late August, having missed a chunk of game-time.
He was included in the squad for Ireland's September Nations League games against Scotland and Armenia but only played for a quarter hour in the first of those fixtures in Glasgow.
"As players we're all competitive. You've always got that fire in your belly, you always want to play but you've got to understand from every angle as well and there have been times where I've come in maybe not in the best of form," he said.
"There are times when I've come in in form and it's just about when you get the opportunity to give as good as you can because ultimately you never know when is the last opportunity. So you've just got to give it everything you've got all the time and ultimately for me, it's always important how the team gets on.
"But of course I've still got that fire in the belly as well to be part of international teams and again that's down to me when I get the opportunity and to make sure I'm doing the business at club level as well."
If Ireland were to qualify for Euro 2024, the Donegal man would be closing in on his 36th birthday when the finals tournament takes place.
As for how long he can go on representing the Boys in Green and his club, Coleman said his physical condition will ultimately dictate future plans.
"I wouldn't say keep going until I can't no more but I think you've got to be realistic with your body," he said.
"If I go back to Everton in January and I'm in training and I notice lads that are going past me two or three times in a training session - it wouldn't usually happen - then I think you've got to look at all things.
"But at this moment in time, I feel good. While I'm not 24, not 23, I'm not up and down (the wing) like I used to be, I feel good, feel physical and I've played against some good wingers this season and I've felt comfortable. So for me it's not about looking that far ahead because it's just about the next game and trying to be as good as I possibly can be in the next game really."
From an Irish point of view, the next games after Malta will be the daunting Euro 2024 qualifying group featuring France, Netherlands, Greece and Gibraltar, with the French first up in Dublin next March.
While admitting that it was a tough draw for Stephen Kenny's squad, Coleman cited performances against Portugal and Belgium in November 2021 and March 2022 respectively as examples of what Ireland could do.
"When you're growing up in Ireland and you're kicking a ball for your local clubs and that, and someone's telling you you've got the opportunity to play against France in a qualifier or Holland in a qualifier, you've got to see the positive side to it and see what we can do," he said.
"We showed at times against Belgium and Portugal, very strong nations, that on our day we can be a match for them. So it's about making everyone believe and really enjoying being part of it and hopefully causing an upset along the way."
Watch Malta v the Republic of Ireland live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player on Sunday from 6.30pm and follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app
