Aaron Connolly says regular first-team training with Albion has set him up for international life.

The Seagulls striker is in Tbilisi with the Republic of Ireland ahead of tomorrow’s Euro 2020 qualifier against Georgia.

At club level, he has been working with Graham Potter’s first team squad since the summer and scored twice on his full Premier League debut against Tottenham.

Connolly has spent this week working with Mick McCarthy’s senior Irish squad and said: “It has been tough, it has been intense.

“Because I have been training with the first team at Brighton, it’s still hard but it’s easier to settle in.

“All the boys are looking after me well.”

Shane Duffy is also with the Irish squad and has thanked Albion’s medical team for helping him make a quick recovery from a calf injury.

Duffy’s rapid return is good news for the Irish and his club, who visit Aston Villa a week tomorrow.

Jayson Molumby, the Albion midfielder on loan to Millwall, skippered Republic of Ireland under-21s in a tense 0-0 draw at home to Italy last night. Molumby had a shot tipped over late on.