Ireland Under-21 defender Seán Roughan admits some people doubted his decision to leave Lincoln City for a loan spell at Drogheda United last year, but says it’s one which has paid off.

Roughan joined the League One club’s academy in September 2019 before signing his first professional deal the following summer.

Eleven first-team appearances followed but injury issues prevented him from nailing down a starting place for the Imps.

The Dublin native (19) returned home in January 2022 to play regular first-team football and spent a half-season at Drogheda United where he featured regularly.

Thirty-four appearances for Lincoln have followed this term and Roughan admits he has found his confidence again on the pitch.

“A lot of people were saying it was a step back, because I’d played a good few games at Lincoln City,” said Roughan, who has reported for U21 duty this week ahead of Sunday’s friendly against Iceland.

“Some people doubted whether I should, but you have to make calls in football and I thought it was best for me. It paid off because I’ve played a lot of games for Lincoln this season.

“It wasn’t a difficult call for me because I wanted to do it. There were different options, but I got more games in the summer season in Ireland.

“To come back after injury and play so many games, Kevin Doherty (manager) and Daire Doyle (assistant) did a lot for me by regaining my confidence.

"That led to me playing for Ireland’s U-19s in the Euro qualifiers in England (in March 2022).”

The left-back has become a mainstay under Lincoln boss and former Ireland international Mark Kennedy this season.

Roughan praised the fellow Dubliner, who knows what it’s like to move across the water at a young age.

Kennedy made his senior debut at Millwall aged 16 before signing a €2.3million deal with Liverpool in 1995, making him the most expensive teenager in English football history at the time.

“I’m a young lad without much experience, I can’t thank Mark enough,” added Roughan who featured for the U21s in last September’s Euro 2023 play-off defeat to Israel.

“Mark has been excellent for me. As a left winger who moved into left back, he gives me that experience from the high level which helps me. Tactically he’s very good and he’s made the team hard to beat.

“He’s always telling me about his caps (35) and we joke about him having the best left foot in the club. I spoke to him about what it’s like to move away from home at a young age.

"If I ever need to have a talk or go home for a day or two, I just call into his office.

“We grew up not far from each other, Swords for me and Corduff for him. He mightn’t sound Irish much now but he gets our banter.”

On the international front, Roughan is hoping to go one step further and qualify for the Euros with a new-look Under-21 side.

Jim Crawford’s men host Iceland in a friendly at Turner’s Cross on Sunday, while the Euro 2025 qualifiers kick off in September against Turkey and San Marino.

“I think we can qualify, that’s our aim,” said Roughan, who had trials at Chelsea and Brighton previously but opted for regular senior football at Lincoln.

“We have a togetherness in this group, some going back to U17s and others at U19s. A lot are playing at a high level.

"Tom Cannon is flying at Preston and we’ve others like Joe Hodge training every day, he sets the standard. Hopefully we qualify and I don’t see any reason why we won’t.”