Striker David McGoldrick says it will be a "real honour" to make his debut for the Republic of Ireland in tonight’s friendly against the USA at the Aviva Stadium (Premier Sports 7pm).

The 26-year-old will start in a number 10 role with his Blues striker partner Daryl Murphy set to be involved at some stage of the game.

Speaking in a lengthy interview in the Irish Independent, McGoldrick says manager Martin O’Neill has said to play his usual game.

"Martin has told me to just be myself, that I'm here for a reason and not to be intimidated,” he said.

“It means a lot to me, because I've been working hard to get it over the line. It's going to be a real honour.”

It was a call to Blues boss Mick McCarthy from Scotland manager Gordon Strachan enquiring about any Scottish links which led to McGoldrick exploring the possibility of playing for Ireland.

"When Mick got that call, I told him that I'd no Scottish roots but that I knew I had some Irish. As soon as I told him that, it seemed to set the ball rolling,” he added.

"From the very start, he was pulling me in to his office every so often, asking me for an update.

“He kept telling me 'Get it over the line, you'll love the Irish set-up and it'll be a great experience for you’.

“He's always talking about how much he loved his time with Ireland and I've no doubt the first person I'll speak to when I get back to the club after this will be Mick, asking how I got on."

"I mean I took it as a big compliment that Gordon Strachan was asking about me, but playing for Scotland never entered my head."

Adopted McGoldrick says it took a while for the documentation establishing his qualification via his biological family to be collated.

"It was going on for a long time,” he said. “[FAI employee] Mary [O’Brien] was chasing everything down, all the paperwork I'd been sending over with my family history.

“Even digging up stuff I didn't know about. If I was left to do it on my own, I don't think I'd have been able to get to the bottom of it.

"It was a huge relief when the passport came through because, at different points, I was thinking it wasn't going to happen."

Photo: Action Images

LiamCP123 added 09:56 - Nov 18 Don't get injured please..
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brazil1982 added 10:04 - Nov 18 Another ridiculous connection to the Ireland team - have they gone back to the 90s?
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Ipswich_Loyal added 10:57 - Nov 18 Not that ridiculous. His adoptive and biological parents are all Irish. I've seen worse links!
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dubblue added 11:49 - Nov 18 Yes, it's not quite the granny rule! Welcome to the team!
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brian_a_mul added 12:01 - Nov 18 Its a pretty direct link! Even in old Football Manager games he was Irish. A start here will help him keep his match fitness up, hopefully himself and Murphs can combine for a goal, they will come bouncing back to Portman Road :) Congrats David and lets hope you have the luck of the Irish in you tonight!
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robk22 added 18:51 - Nov 18 I'll be in attendance at the Aviva tonight. Very excited to see the ipswich pair up top and also best of luck to Cyrus Christie of derby on his debut. Less negativity please this could give didz a huge confidence boost which could improve his so far (by his standards) mediocre season.
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robk22 added 22:35 - Nov 18 Mcgoldrick made 2 of the most sublime assists I've ever seen anyone in an Ireland jersey make (No bias). He played extremely well given the opportunities given to him. Murph was quiet unfortunately
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