AFTER holding the world champions and then helping Burnley to their first win of the Premier League season, Stephen Ward tonight runs out at the stadium where almost every Irishman dreams of playing.

A month ago Ward was in Germany, at Schalke’s Veltins Arena, battling the players who had lifted the World Cup only three months earlier.

A shock 1-1 draw, secured thanks to a late equaliser from John O’Shea, has put the Republic of Ireland in a good position to qualify for the European Championships in 2016.

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Tonight they face Scotland at Celtic Park, the home of the team that most in Ireland idolise.

Travelling fans snapped up tickets quickly, and more are expected to find their way into the home end.

Ward admits it will be a special night, and an important one too in their hopes of reaching the Euros.

“It’s a big game,” the Clarets left back said.

“I don’t think there’s many of the team who don’t follow Celtic and for an Irish team to go there and play an international is great.

“The atmosphere will be unbelievable with the fans.

“It’s going to be a tough game against Scotland.

“They are a force at the moment and they’ve had a great couple of years but hopefully we can go there and get a result.”

Scotland have Ward’s Burnley clubmate Matt Gilks in their squad, although the goalkeeper is unlikely to get on the field tonight.

Ward is expected to start at left back again, having lined up there against Germany’s stars last month.

“It was a great night and one I really enjoyed,” said the former Wolves man, who started all three games for Ireland at Euro 2012.

“It was an unbelievable occasion. There were a few players I was marking - Thomas Muller, Mario Gotze.

“It was a tough game, but we went there, stayed in it and got a result.

“To go to the world champions and get a result is up there for me, but we won’t really look back at it too much until the qualifying campaign’s over and if we do qualify for the tournament.”

Ward has since displaced Ben Mee at left back in the Burnley team, and helped the Clarets secure a clean sheet as they clinched their first win of the season at home to Hull on Saturday.

“It was nice to play on Saturday and get the win,” the 29-year-old said.

“I feel like I’m getting fitter and stronger every game and I enjoyed it. I thought the back five defended well and to be fair everyone in this squad gives everything and that’s key.

“It’s been a tough introduction to the Premier League for us but we’ve acquitted ourselves really well and we were unfortunate not to get that win a bit earlier.

“The gaffer has always kept us believing and everyone sings off the hymn sheet.

“To get that win will definitely help the confidence.

“It gives us the belief that we can win games in the Premier League. It’s massive.

“When I was at Wolves we go our first win in our second game and it gave us great belief and great confidence.

“Here it was a while coming but the lads have never lost that belief and I think coming off that season like last year, they’ll always believe.

“Hopefully we can push on now.”