Derrick Williams is aiming to put pressure on Burnley counterpart Stephen Ward for the left-back spot in the Republic of Ireland back four.

Rovers defender Williams impressed on his first senior cap for his country in Monday's 2-0 defeat to a strong France side.

He will be looking to follow-up his display when Ireland host USA in Dublin on Saturday, but faces competition from the experienced Ward, and Sheffield United's Enda Stevens.

Ward, aged 32, has 47 caps to his name and has been a regular under Martin O'Neill.

But 25-year-old Williams hopes his performance has pushed his claims for further inclusion, adding: “That’s what I want, to put pressure on Ward.

“There are a couple of other left-backs in the squad.

“I want to make sure Martin thinks, ‘Yeah, I want him to play’. Hopefully it’s just a start. I’ve got to keep working hard and see how it goes.

“I just have to try to get more starts at club level and give Martin and Roy something to think about.”

Williams started the game at the Stade de France before being replaced by Matt Doherty with eight minutes remaining.

He stuck to his task well against PSG wonderkid Kylian Mbappe and admits it was 'a dream come true'.

“He reads the team out and afterwards he tells you, gives you a little talk and that, you just have to get your head ready,” said Williams.

“I walked out on to the pitch and it was, ‘Ah, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — I might not get this chance again’.

“A lot of players make their debuts and you’ve just got to step up to the occasion. I think I did that, I didn’t feel too much out of place. I tried to be positive and be as confident as I could.

“I was a bit disappointed with how I started but I think I worked my way into the game and settled well and made a few tackles, I was happy enough.

“The result wasn’t great but personally it’s a dream come true to make my debut.”

Signed from Bristol City in the summer of 2016, Williams has been a consistent performer since his £250,000 move.

He has missed just one game since Tony Mowbray took charge in February 2017 and the 2016/17 player of the year has moved himself in to the intentional reckoning.

Williams has been capped at youth level, but was keen to take his chance in the senior team when it came around.

On the challenge of marking Mbappe he told The Irish Times: “It was unreal. What a feeling. It’s something you dream of as a kid. It’s not a bad place to make your debut. I tried to take it all in.

“I tried to worry about my own man and just tried to enjoy it and do the best I could.

“I thought I did OK. The first half, I could have been better on the ball, but in the second half, I played my way into the game. I was just excited. When Martin said I was starting, there was  bit of nerves.

“He nutmegged me nicely in the first half. Me and James McClean did better on him, we just talked and we worked out after a bit.

“I think they brought Antoine Griezmann on to my side and then Ousmane Dembélé.

“It was a great experience, even to play against those players, just to take it all on and enjoy it.”