Matt Holland has been told by international manager Mick McCarthy that injury permitting he is guaranteed a place in the Irish squad for this summer's World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
Holland has become an increasingly important part of the Irish squad with his equalising goal against Portugal in Lisbon's Stadium of Light in October 2000 perhaps the highlight so far.
Unsurprisingly Holland has welcomed McCarthy's decision to include him: "The manager told me the day before the game against Russia that my name was tattooed in his squad and he wanted to look at some of the other younger players. It was nice to hear that news and it gave me a big boost. To play in the World Cup finals would be amazing."
Holland began his Irish career as deputy to Roy Keane and Mark Kinsella in the centre of midfield. More recently Holland has been preferred to Kinsella and played both legs of the play-off against Iran.