Town striker David McGoldrick says he only discovered on Saturday evening that the documentation relating to his qualification for the Republic of Ireland had finally been completed.
The 26-year-old received a call from Ireland boss Martin O’Neill to inform him he had been added to the squad for the Euro 2016 in Scotland on Friday and next Tuesday’s friendly against the USA in Dublin.
Nottingham-born McGoldrick, who qualifies for Ireland via both his biological and adoptive parents, trained with his new international team-mates, including fellow Blues striker Daryl Murphy, for the first time today.
Speaking in an interview with FAI TV he said he's glad the paperwork has finally been sorted: "I’m delighted that it’s gone through now and I’m really, really excited to be putting on the jersey if I can.
"It’s been a long wait, it’s been going on for quite a long time. I’ve been in contact with [the FAI] trying to get it over the line and there have been a few complications, but they’ve worked hard and they’ve got it done and it’s happened quite quickly over the past week, so I’m really thankful for that.”
He says confirmation finally came after the weekend victory over Watford: "It felt great, I got the call from Martin O’Neill on Saturday night.
"When I saw his name come up on my phone I thought straight away that it might be done and it was a great feeling to know I was coming away.”
Manager O’Neill, who was at Portman Road to watch Town's Irish players in action against Wolves last Tuesday, has hinted that McGoldrick and another new call-up, Derby’s Cyrus Christie, won’t be involved in the game against Scotland at Celtic Park on Friday.
"They’ve just come into the fold, they’re getting to know each other and the rest of the squad and this is the first day they have trained,” he said.
"It might be asking a lot to involve them, but the two lads have got talent and that’s the main thing.”
It seems more likely that McGoldrick could win his first Irish cap when the USA visit the Aviva Stadium in Dublin for a friendly on Tuesday.
Also amongst those in international action this week is Tommy Smith, who is with the New Zealand squad for friendlies against China in Nanchang on Friday and Thailand in Bangkok on Wednesday 19th November.
Christophe Berra is in the Scotland squad for the qualifier with Ireland and a friendly against England on Tuesday.
Young midfielder Adam McDonnell, 17, has been named in the Republic of Ireland U19s for this week’s European Championships qualifying tournament in Waterford and Wexford.