Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Eunan O’Kane has highlighted the phenomenal opportunity that awaits him this summer, as the Leeds United midfielder prepares to help the Republic of Ireland qualify for the World Cup in Russia next summer.

O’Kane has been named in Martin O’Neill’s final squad for the upcoming qualifiers against Denmark, with Ireland just 180 minutes away from securing a place in the summer’s World Cup in Russia.

The first leg of Ireland’s double-header is tonight, and speaking ahead of that clash, O’Kane has admitted that the reward of qualifying for the World Cup is what dreams are made of, he said: “I think every kid grows up wanting to represent their country and to go and play at the World Cup.

“It’s the biggest competition in the world. To be so close and to have the opportunity to hopefully go and do that is phenomenal.”

The 27-year-old midfielder currently has seven international caps, the last of which came in February. However, a steady start to the Sky Bet Championship season with Leeds has put O’Kane back in contention under O’Neill, with the Irishman featuring in 15 of Leeds’ 16 league fixtures so far this season.

O’Kane and Leeds’ start to the season was extremely impressive, with the Whites remaining unbeaten after seven fixtures, but a major slump in form has seen Thomas Christiansen’s side fall down to 10th in the table, having suffered seven defeats from their last nine league fixtures.

The Verdict

Tonight presents itself as a huge opportunity for O’Kane and Ireland, and one that potentially might never come to the midfielder again in his career.

At 27, the likelihood is that this will be O’Kane’s last chance to play at a World Cup and if given an opportunity tonight, he will be doing everything in his power to help his country to Russia.

Leeds will be hoping the midfielder can rediscover some of his early season form over the international break, so that when he returns to Elland Road next week, he is hitting the same heights as he was earlier in the season.

Leeds fans… Let us know your thoughts!