Shane Long is aiming to prove once more that he is the man for the future at St Mary’s as he comes up against Graziano Pelle in a Saints striker’s head-to-head at Euro 2016.

With Pelle continually being linked with a move away from Saints as he heads into the final year of his contract, Long is very much seen as the natural replacement as the club’s talisman.

The £12m man had already established himself ahead of Pelle towards the back end of last season, with his form over the campaign earning him the coveted Daily Echo Player of the Season award, as voted for by the club’s fans.

Pelle ended the campaign just one goal ahead of Long with a tally of 14 in all competitions.

However, he continues to be heavily linked with a move back to Italy, while there is also apparent interest in him from clubs in England.

Saints are understandably cautious about handing him a long-term deal with Pelle turning 31 next month, while the player himself knows he has one last big contract in him and so will want as much security as possible.

Tonight’s game promises to be a fascinating battle between the two this evening as Long’s Republic of Ireland take on Pelle’s Italy in Lille.

Martin O'Neill's men were left on the brink of an early exit by Saturday's 3-0 defeat by Belgium and, while their task will be no easier at the Stade Pierre Mauroy, assistant manager Roy Keane is refusing to throw in the towel.

He said: "We've got to be careful here because what you do, in sport or in life, you can over-analyse it. We believed the team going out there at the start (against Belgium) would get the right result for the country.

"It didn't pan out that way, but you move on quickly. We've watched it back - and that wasn't easy, let me tell you - but move on to the next game.

"Some days when you've played well and you've had good days, you've got to move on quickly and I've always been not bad at that really, move on quickly to the next game. It's the same for the players.

"We'll be positive. You can look back all you want, but you're talking to the wrong man. We look forward and get ready for the next challenge - that's what sport is about.

"It's like a boxer. I've seen great boxers get knocked out, but you get back up and you start swinging and hope for the best."

Italy boss Antonio Conte is expected to make wholesale changes with top spot in the group already secured, and the Ireland camp does not really know what to expect in terms of his selection.

However, Keane is sure whatever team the Italians field, Ireland will have their work cut out to get the result they need.

He said: "I don't want to be talking them up too much, but they've got a bit of everything and that is why they are a good team. There are no real weaknesses, so we'll have to be at our very, very best.

"But we have beaten Italy before, so it can be done."