Ipswich ace Jack Taylor hopes Ireland debut is first of many under ...

JACK TAYLOR hopes he proved a point on his debut - but he was disappointed not to earn a point with a goal.

Ipswich Town midfielder Taylor, 26, made his Ireland debut last night as the Boys in Green lost 2-0 to Greece in Piraeus.

But it was the type of cameo that will earn him more opportunities as the Londoner added energy to the midfield while also having both Ireland’s shots on target.

The first - a flying header from a Josh Cullen cross - forced Greece goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos to tip away for a corner.

But Taylor was more annoyed with his second effort when a Robbie Brady corner fell to him in the area only for his volley to be blocked.

And he was off balance when the ball rebounded to him again as he could only loop the ball safely into Vlachodimos hands.

But Taylor reckons that moment shows that Ireland were close to claiming a draw, with Greece’s second goal coming in injury time.

He said: “It was a bit gutting, the one after I think I should do better, another day I think I get the goal.

“We deserved to get a point here. The mistake at the end was a bit of a token.

"On another day, my chance goes in and we’d come out with a draw and four-point window.”

But Taylor hopes that his appearance is the first of many, having acknowledged last week he was frustrated not to be capped by Stephen Kenny.

Called up by Kenny at Under-21 level in 2019, he did make the Ireland squad on three occasions in 2020, 2021 and 2023 without making a debut.

But Ipswich’s promotion to the Premier League led new boss Heimir Hallgrímsson to personally watch him against Aston Villa, that earned him his call-up and cap.

Taylor said: “He came to a couple of my games where I made an impact for Ipswich.

“I am obviously glad that it has been shown on the international stage and I am delighted to be called up and finally make my debut and put on that jersey.

“I have been called up before so I was ready to make my debut then. I am in the best shape of my career at the minute, I am really buzzing that it's finally come

“It was a long time coming.

“It's a clean slate for me, everyone is still trying to impress, to keep their slot in the team, so I am delighted with the impact I made and long may it continue.”

But Taylor revealed he was given no notice that he would be coming on before he was told he was replacing Evan Ferguson on 57 minutes.

He said: “To be honest we didn't have that chat. We don't know how the game is going to go, we could have come in 1-0 in the first half with the chance (for Ferguson) we had.

“You can't predict what sub is going to come on, I was ready the other night to come on no matter what the score was and I am delighted I have put that jersey on and made an impact.

“He said just come on and make an impact in the game like all the other subs did, we didn't play like how we wanted to play, we weren't intense enough.

“It’s a squad game, the subs brought the intensity to the game and changed it. In the last 20-30 minutes I thought we had them pinned back. In the end I felt we deserved a draw.”