CYRUS CHRISTIE admits he would not have been able to help steer the Republic of Ireland to the brink of World Cup qualification had he not made a summer move to Middlesbrough.

Christie joined Boro team-mate Darren Randolph in the Ireland side that secured a World Cup play-off spot with a nerve-jangling 1-0 win in Wales on Monday night.

The full-back was part of a spirited Irish rearguard that repelled a series of second-half Welsh attacks after James McClean broke the deadlock at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Standing in for the injured Seamus Coleman, Christie displayed his customary energy as he tore up and down the touchline, and will hope to remain in Martin O’Neill’s starting side for next month’s two-legged play-off.

The euphoria that greeted Monday’s victory stood in marked contrast to the frustration Christie was feeling last season as his career stalled at Derby.

His summer move to Teesside has reignited his footballing passion, and helped him produce the kind of performances that have been so crucial to Ireland’s successful qualifying campaign.

“Going to Boro has been like a new lease of life,” said Christie, who has started all 11 of Boro’s Championship matches this season. “My time at Derby, at times it was tough and I wasn’t enjoying it.

“At Boro, the manager has given me some belief, and the confidence to enjoy my football, and given me freedom and license within my game to do what I can do, and I’m really enjoying it.

“The lads are great and my confidence is sky-high. I’m playing well, I’m playing every game and I’m making things happen.”

Christie was a regular in the starting line-up at Derby, but his relationship with those around him wasn’t as strong as it might have been.

He lost confidence as he was criticised for a handful of errors, and was desperate to leave Pride Park by the time Boro came calling with a £2.5m offer.

“There was a lot of stuff happening at Derby, off the field more than anything. Even when I was playing and doing well, there were times where I’d make a mistake and that was it – it was the end of the world for some people and they were jumping on me.

“I probably did lose a bit of confidence. At times, you can be a confidence player – I think most players are like that.”

Christie and Randolph were not the only Boro players involved in international action on Monday night as teenage forward Marcus Tavernier made his first England Under-19s start in a 2-2 draw with Slovakia.

Meanwhile, Boro have confirmed they will be staging a beam-back of Saturday’s away game at Barnsley at the Riverside. Tickets are £10, which is inclusive of pie and peas, and doors will open at 1pm.