Town striker David McGoldrick has reflected on his recent international debut against the USA — and admitted he was surprised to be given a start by Republic of Ireland boss Martin O’Neill.
McGoldrick, who only received the necessary clearance days earlier, was named alongside club colleague Daryl Murphy for the friendly clash with the USA in Dublin on Tuesday and was credited with two assists in his side’s 4-1 victory.
The pair were substituted towards the end of the second half and Nottingham-born McGoldrick, who qualifies through his grandmother, said: "It was good to get it finally over the line in the past week.
"I was surprised that I was starting against the USA but that must be a good thing. It was great to go out there and get 75 minutes.”
McGoldrick’s first call-up also coincided with the Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland at Celtic Park, which saw the Irish beaten 1-0, and he added: "I wasn’t really expecting to play in the Scotland game — I had only been with the squad for a few days and I’m a level-headed lad. I didn’t go there thinking I would walk straight into the team for the Scotland game.
"I was thinking it was great just to be involved and I was on the bench alongside some great players. It would have been nice to get on but I didn’t.
"I didn’t know I was starting the USA game until an hour before the game so I just took it as it was. I like that kind of thing, not knowing too much, and thankfully it went quite well for us.
"My performance was alright. I had only been training with the other players for about a week or so and it takes time to click.
"I thought we did quite well because the whole team was like a new XI but for me, playing with Murph up top, was a big help because I know his game so well. I had a few friends up at the Scotland game but there weren’t so many over in Dublin for the game against the USA.
"I wasn’t nervous. I didn’t know that many of the lads, but apart from Murph I knew two others, Alex Pearce and Cyrus Christie, so it wasn’t too bad. Everyone was really, really nice to be fair and Murph had said beforehand that they were all top lads. He was spot-on because they were all really helpful and nice to me.”
McGoldrick laughed off the suggestion that he might have been better waiting for England boss Roy Hodgson to give him a call, insisting he would be more than happy to remain a part of the Republic’s plans for the foreseeable future alongside O’Neill and his assistant, ex-Town boss Roy Keane.
He said: "I’m a level-headed lad and I think England are a bit out of my reach at the minute. After the game the manager just said ‘Well played’. He had told me to go out and play my normal game, which was why he had picked me, and I felt I did that. He said ‘Well done, different class’ and they are two nice guys.
"After a few days they were both fine to talk to, both Roy and Martin. The standard was very good, with some top-quality Premiership and Championship players there.
"It was an eye-opener for me and a boost to my confidence to be there, training and playing with them.”