SMALL STEPS FOR WILL WITH IRELAND FINALLY PUTTING BEST FOOT FORWARD

WILL SMALLBONE insists Ireland’s draw with Senegal was another step in the right direction under Heimir Hallgrimsson.

- BY PAUL O'HEHIR

The Boys in Green let a Kasey McAteer lead slip with the concession of an equaliser eight minutes from time at Aviva Stadium.

But Ireland remain unbeaten this year, going into Tuesday's season-ending friendly in Luxembourg and the all-important World Cup campaign in September.

Smallbone was making his return to the squad after a luckless time with injury, and this was only his second camp under Hallgrimsson.

But the Southampton man played well in a deeper-lying midfield role and feels there were more positives than negatives on the night.