Boss Mick McCarthy says Blues striker David McGoldrick is raring to go and “wants to make up for lost time” having been named in the provisional Republic of Ireland squad for the European Championships warm-up game against Holland on Friday 27th May alongside his Town team-mate Daryl Murphy.
"I thought they'd be in the preliminary squad anyway, it's great for them but it's up to Martin [O'Neill] if they go eventually,” said McCarthy, who was speaking at a press conference this morning, where he was announced as Paddy Power’s Euro 2016 ambassador, contributing columns to the Paddy Power Blog throughout Euro 2016.
"They are both fit, Murph's missed the last 10 games [with a calf problem] but he's fit and David is raring to go, to be honest.
"He has missed a lot of football and he's hungry for it, he's not wanting his holidays, he wants to make up for lost time, he played in the last four games for me and he's alright, they are both fine.
"We couldn't achieve anything, other than finishing seventh, so once the play-offs had gone, I really wanted him to be fit and available for the Euros, which he is.
"He is different to any of the other strikers, he’s very good, he's a good finisher, he can take the ball and keep hold of it, he drops in and plays.
"He's not one who threatens off the shoulder all the time, though he can do that as he's quick enough. He's a comfortable, technical player.
"Daryl was prolific last season. As for not scoring, there's a first time for everything. He will get one at some stage. It's whether he gets a start as they'll have to look at him in the friendlies coming up and only Martin will decide if he gets a chance.
"He was outstanding last season and he's only missed games this season through injury but he's fit now and has his opportunity with the games coming up.”
Reflecting on Ireland’s group opponents, Belgium, Italy and Sweden, at the Euros in France, he added: "It’s a tough group, the European Championships are notoriously tough.
"There are some weaker teams in it as they have extend the amount of teams that are in it, but nevertheless you’ve got to beat the best teams to win it.
"The three teams that we’ve got are exceptionally tough but that has always been the case. I can’t remember going to a championship thinking it was going to be easy.
"The last European Championships in Poland were disappointing but you do your best and see what happens. It has generally been the case that teams don’t like playing against us.”
Meanwhile, McCarthy has reiterated his desire to return to the Republic of Ireland manager's job which was his between 1996 and 2002 at some stage in the future with current boss Martin O’Neill not having ruled out a return to club management following the Euros.
"If I'm out of work and there is no Ireland manager there - there is one there at the moment and he has done a very good job to get them to the Euros - if I haven't got a job, and the job comes up then of course I would be interested," he told RTE News.
In January McCarthy and his assistant Terry Connor signed new contracts with Town which run to 2018 with options for a further two years.