Enda Stevens has told Paul Cook he doesn't need a rest from first-team duties.

Cook gave Ben Davies a week off recently because of the sheer number of unbroken games the former Sheffield Utd man had racked up.

It didn't go so well, with Pompey lacking Davies' energy and slipping to defeat. Now Stevens, who has played a similar number of games to Davies, has insisted he does not need the same sort of break, instead saying he is happy to keep on playing and helping keep the promotion bid on track.

He told The News: ‘I just want to focus on playing every game and playing well in every game. Fitness is a big part of the game and if I wasn’t fit I wouldn’t be playing. I don’t think the manager would play me. I don’t want or need a rest.’

The left-back also spoke of his dream of breaking into the Republic of Ireland squad for Euro 16, something that would appear difficult for a player playing his trade in League Two.

Stevens told The News: ‘It would be a dream of mine to earn an international call-up but I’ve got to focus on my club football. If I keep playing well then hopefully that will get me into the Irish team.

‘I have played for the under-21s a few times. It was a good experience. I was still in Ireland when I got my caps and then I was too old when I moved to England.'

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