O'SHEA'S DONE JUST THE JOB

Cullen hails stand-in Republic boss after Belgium made to fight by new generation

- BY MICHAEL SCULLY

JOSH CULLEN reckons the Ireland squad are beginning to find a new sense of purpose.

Now, they have to trust the FAI to put the right manager in place to guide them through this year's Nations League and the World Cup qualifiers that will follow.

The Burnley midfielder and a host of other players praised the work done by interim boss John O'Shea and his backroom team in the build-up to an impressive 0-0 draw with Belgium.

"They were brilliant," said Cullen. "I can't speak highly enough of them.

"The way they've come in, the atmosphere they've created around the place, the detail they've gone into in such a short period of time to prepare us for the game it's been absolutely brilliant.

"It's been great to work under them." Back in an Ireland set-up for the first time since his contract as manager wasn't renewed 18 years ago, Brian Kerr (right, with O'Shea) gave a stirring 20-minute speech on the eve of the game that Cullen says will stay with the players.