MIDDLESBROUGH star Finn Azaz is backing John O'Shea for the Republic of Ireland job on a permanent basis.

Stephen Kenny’s departure in November sparked a search for a new head coach which remains ongoing almost nine months later and having stepped into the breach for March’s draw with Belgium and narrow defeat by Switzerland, O’Shea has been handed the reins again this month.

The former Manchester United and Sunderland man was initially not considered a candidate to fill the vacancy permanently, but has worked his way into contention with an appointment due before September’s Nations League opener against England.

O'Shea handed Azaz his first Ireland call-up earlier this year and Boro's playmaker made his first start in Tuesday night's morale boosting friendly victory over Euro 2024 qualifiers Hungary.

Azaz played just over an hour before being replaced by Troy Parrott, whose stoppage time goal secured the 2-1 victory at the Aviva Stadium which ended the Hungarians’ 14-match unbeaten run in their penultimate warm-up fixture before they fly to Germany.

"I was buzzing to get my first start and really happy to win the game," said Azaz, who joined Boro from Aston Villa in January and played a key role as Michael Carrick's side ended the Championship season in fine form.

"It was a massive night for my family when I made my debut and another one now to get my first start.

"I've been wanting to get in the squad and play for Ireland for years. It's been something on my journey I've always wanted to do. Right now I 'm just trying to live it and enjoy it.

"I'm very grateful to the boss for giving me my debut and bringing me into the squad. I hope he's able to get the job. He's put his trust in me so I'll try to repay him."

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Ireland now head for Portugal next Tuesday looking to build on their hard-fought victory against a side ranked some 34 places above them. The Hungary win will lift spirits after a stretch of 11 matches during which their only successes had come against minnows Gibraltar.

Azaz said: "They haven't lost in 14 so it was a special night to get the win. We had to dig deep but we played well.

"We wish we were in their (Hungary's) position going to the Euros. But we'll get loads of confidence from this win."

Boro have high hopes next season for Azaz, who is a key figure in Carrick's plans as the head coach plots a Championship promotion push. The 23-year-old scored four goals and provided five assists after his switch in January, which followed an impressive loan spell at Plymouth in the first half of the season.

He's now hoping to get more action for Ireland against Portugal next week before a break ahead of Boro's pre-season getting underway at the end of this month.

Regardless of whether he gets the job on a full-time basis, Ireland's interim boss O'Shea believes he's laying the foundations for future success.

He said: “It’s evidence that we’re winning games again, which is hugely important at home when we want to qualify for tournaments. We want to win games, especially at home.

“That’s the foundation for qualifying for tournaments and against a team that had been on an unbeaten run like they had been, we found a way.

“Yes, we can do things better, but the big thing for me was we caused them problems at different stages – and we would have caused them a lot more problems with a bit more care.”