“Burnley sent me on loan to Conference club Barrow at the start of the season and then Accrington in January,” the 20-year-old said.

“You can only really develop into a defender by playing games that matter. Being part of teams at that level certainly toughens you up and I’m glad Noel thought enough of me to call me up.

“It would make my family very proud to wear that green jersey tonight. I’d never played for Ireland before but neither did Kevin Long until last year.”

Long, a team-mate at Burnley, is proof that budding talents do not necessarily have to follow the beaten track to stardom. He endured a litany of setbacks before making his Premier League debut at 24. His Ireland bow did not arrive until last June by which time he had reached the ripe age of 26.

“If it takes until then, so be it,” Dunne admitted about his own career path. “People at Accrington still talk about Kevin because that was one of the several clubs he spent time on loan at.

“You don’t hear of centre backs going straight from the club’s under-23 team into the Premier League. We have to learn our trade.”

Dunne should be one of many debutants blooded by King tonight. Acting as preparation for Tuesday’s European Championship qualifier against Azerbaijan, newcomers will be given game time. Rory Hale, in prolific form lately for Derry City, is set to lead the line having joined his brother Ronan in the squad as a late call-up.