John O'Sullivan talks to Shelbourne's Jason Byrne, who has put aside self-interest for the sake of his team

Strikers aren't exactly noted for their generosity in a footballing context.

Goals are the only commodity that matter and are the currency in which they deal. Jason Byrne has managed to subdue those instincts in the interests of his Shelbourne team-mates.

Tonight at Lansdowne Road when the Dublin side take on Deportivo La Coruna in the Champions League, Byrne is prepared to graft on the right side of midfield as he has done in the previous two rounds of the competition, if manager Pat Fenlon adopts a lone-striker approach.

He smiled: "I don't mind playing out there if that is where the manager wants me to play. I enjoyed it last week because we won. If he asked me to play in goal against Deportivo I would; play anywhere at that. I don't particularly like it but (it's) to help the team. If I have to sacrifice goals for the team then I will. I want to be a team player not just score goals for myself."

Byrne, top scorer in the Eircom League last season and leading the way again this year, has coped admirably with his "unfamiliar" posting, utilising his pace to good effect. Indeed it is that quality that should make the move to a bigger pitch at Lansdowne Road very much to his liking. "There will be a lot of space to run into. That's one of the things I do, playing off the shoulder of the defender and there's a lot of space in between them. As for the rest of the team I don't know whether it would be their choice. I like the big pitch.

"It's a bit of a shame to come out of Tolka Park because we know we have a chance to beat any team there given the tight pitch and the intimidation factor but (going to Lansdowne Road) gives us a chance to play where he never have before. We will relish it on the night and just concentrate on giving it our best."

Byrne offers a rueful grin when his manager's words are trotted out about tonight's clash being about 11 players versus 11. "Yeah, you can always say that going into every match. We have to keep it tight and see what happens. It'll be the greatest achievement ever by an Irish team. It's nice to think about (achieving something like) that."

If the Shelbourne players were expecting bouquets after last Wednesday's superb 2-0 win over Hajduk Split when they returned to training, Fenlon quickly disabused them of that notion. Byrne pointed out: "We came back training on the Saturday and Pat brought us back to earth. He came in with a long face and told us that (match) was gone and we had to move on.

"So we were a bit dumbstruck by that. We enjoyed it when it happened but this is another big game and we have to put the Hajduk match to the back of our minds. If we work as hard as we did against Hajduk then we might get the rewards."

Given his cousin Robbie Keane is partial to the odd goal or two at Lansdowne Road, Byrne would love to get on the score-sheet and earn some bragging rights. Like most of the Shelbourne squad he watched Deportivo reach the semi-finals of the Champions League last season, impressed by both their achievement and the quality of football.

Shelbourne's European campaign this season has whetted the appetite. "That's why you want to become a footballer, to play in the likes of a game like this. Lansdowne is going to be packed out. We just have to play to our full potential. They are a quality side and it'll be a fairly tough task. We have to stick together. It's going to be a daunting task but I'm sure we can handle ourselves.

"Mind you, I think we could take on Brazil with the way that the lads are buzzing. It's a confidence thing. I don't think anyone expected us to win last Wednesday but we were confident then. It wasn't a lucky win, we deserved it on the night."

Sleeves rolled up, policing the right touchline, Byrne is prepared for a long night's toil but expect to see him hovering with intent, inside and outside the box. After all he is a striker by inclination.