Callum O'Dowda has been savouring the opportunity to have additional time in Republic of Ireland camp ahead of their Euro 2024 qualifying double-header, which begins on Friday against Greece.
Stephen Kenny’s side have spent additional weeks together following the conclusion of the Premier League season.
Players in the Football League were joined by some League of Ireland stars for a camp in Bristol, which was followed by another training camp in Turkey ahead of the fixture in Athens.
It’s a far cry from a window where three matches can be crammed into just over a week with little time for planning for the next game.
O’Dowda, speaking to RTÉ Sport in Antalya, feels it has been beneficial.
He said: "Our preparation has been very good whether it be from the four days in Bristol and then Turkey. A lot of people will be saying we've been out here for ages but things start with preparation.
"That's whether it's getting to know the lads better but from a football point of view we can work on different systems, details of everything from set plays to being in or out of possession and that's in every part of the pitch. There's also been studying how Greece play.
"It’s quite hard coming into camps after your game on a Saturday and arriving on a Sunday. You're not able to get on the pitch until Monday or Tuesday because of fatigue or whatever. It has been really refreshing to come out here and have time and it does feel like a club preparation.
"The down time also has been good, being around the hotel and just spending time as a group, that you don't really get to do in Dublin. It's strange but good."
The game is pivotal for keeping Ireland in contention in the group with heavyweights France and Netherlands.
Victory for Ireland in Athens and against Gibraltar on Monday would provide a platform for a plotting an upset later in the group.
"They're a very good team, we can't look over that," O'Dowda said of Greece.
"We'll definitely be getting to look the win
"Greece, in terms of ranking, and looking at the group, we're probably similar. We do speak about [a historic victory]. It's what we want. You want to look back on your career on the moments of wins so we can't regret this. We need to give it everything."
Tony O'Donoghue has the latest from the Ireland camp ahead of a huge clah against Greece
O’Dowda has been a popular choice for Kenny, when fit, and it was misfortune when he picked up a knock before the France defeat having looked likely to feature.
Days earlier the Cardiff winger had performed well in the friendly against Latvia.
"It was very frustrating for me to miss the France game and I've been unlucky for the last few years and even professionally. It was a groin twinge I had a couple of days before we played France. It was one of those where I felt I'd be able to play the following game and I did actually start against Swansea when I came back.
"I trained once before that league game after Ireland and I ended up having to come off. I feel good now. I think I've used this summer to keep ticking over. I had a few rests so I feel in good shape.
"Even when I was unfit the manager was on the phone checking up on me a lot, if I did miss a camp. I've always tried to pay back the faith."
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Watch Greece v Republic of Ireland in the Euro 2024 qualifier on Friday night from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app or listen to live radio commentary with Game On on 2fm
