A fleet-footed striker with pace to burn, Shane Long could be the joker in the Republic of Ireland's pack at UEFA EURO 2012. He returned to the English Premier League in 2011, joining West Bromwich Albion FC after a prolific season in the Championship with Reading FC.

• Started out with Cork City FC but left, aged 18, for Reading in tandem with fellow striker Kevin Doyle midway through the Irish club's Premier Division title-winning campaign of 2005.

• Scored three goals in his first half-season to help Reading win promotion to the Premier League but played second fiddle to compatriot Doyle over the next two seasons in the English top flight, being predominantly deployed as a substitute.

• Won his first international cap in a UEFA EURO 2008 qualifier against San Marino on 7 February 2007 and scored his maiden goal for Ireland three and a half months later in a friendly against Bolivia in Boston.

• Became the focal point of the Reading attack following their relegation to the Championship and enjoyed a very productive 2010/11 campaign, scoring 21 goals in the regular season plus two in the promotion play-offs, only to be on the losing side in the Wembley final against Swansea City AFC; also struck three international goals during the season − against Russia, Norway and Uruguay.

• Left Reading for West Brom on a three-year deal in August 2011 and scored in the opening two Premier League fixtures − against Manchester United FC and Chelsea FC.