Preston North End's Republic of Ireland pair have a new international manager to impress when football resumes

Stephen Kenny replaced Mick McCarthy as Republic of Ireland boss in April, with Kenny having stepped-up from being Under-21s coach.

The succession plan was for Kenny to take over from McCarthy after Euro 2020.

With the tournament having been pushed back to next summer due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it was decided that Kenny would succeed McCarthy now and give him chance to settle into the job.

The Republic have reached the Euro play-offs and were due to have played Slovakia in a one-leg semi-final in March.

That game in Bratislava looks likely to take place later in the year, with the winners facing Northern Ireland or Bosnia-Herzegovina in the play-off final.

North End midfielder Browne told the Lancashire Post: “There has been the change of manager and a lot of changes.

“At the moment the focus is on life in general so I’ve not thought too much about the Euros play-offs.

“When football resumes the international front will come more to mind.

“I thought Mick McCarthy did a really good job and the fact the play-offs and finals had to be postponed was unfortunate for him.

“Everyone really liked Mick, he got fans back on side and I’m sure everyone who is an Irish supporter is grateful for that.

“It’s disappointing to see him go and some of the staff leave too but Stephen Kenny is a really good manager.

“I’m looking forward to working under him and seeing what he is like.

“Hopefully he can progress us even more.

“I haven’t worked with Stephen before but a few of the lads have.

“They speak really well of him and his CV speaks for itself – especially with the work he has done with Dundalk in Ireland.”

Kenny will be the third Ireland manager who Browne has played under.

It was Martin O’Neill who gave Browne his debut in a friendly against Mexico in New Jersey in June 2017.

McCarthy taking over led to more frequent appearances for Browne and he now has nine caps to his name.

Browne’s first goals for his country came earlier this season against Bulgaria in a Dublin friendly.