Town striker Daryl Murphy admits that this summer’s European Championships are likely to be his last chance of playing at a major tournament and says the next week is a big one for him as he looks to secure a place in Martin O’Neill’s 23-man Republic of Ireland squad.
Murphy, 33, and Blues team-mate David McGoldrick, 28, joined up with the Irish squad at the National Training Centre in Dublin today ahead of Friday’s friendly against Holland at the Aviva Stadium.
O’Neill and his assistant, former Town boss Roy Keane, have cut their 35-man provisional squad down by five with Stoke’s Marc Wilson forced out of the tournament, due to a knee injury, and Paul McShane of Reading, Derby’s Alex Pearce, Cardiff’s Anthony Pilkington and Jonathan Hayes from Aberdeen moved to standby.
"It could be the last chance for a lot of us, the lads who are in our 30s,” Murphy told the Irish Herald. "A few of us will probably not play in a major tournament again so you have to make the most of it.
"I watched Euro 2012 in a pub in Waterford, I was gutted not to be involved but hopefully I have a chance this time.
"I wouldn't say I am confident of going. I have been in the squad since Martin and Roy took over, I have played in a few big games and done all right but no one can be certain of going, the next week is a big week for a lot of players who want to push for places in the final 23. I want to be there but there are no guarantees.”
He says there’ll be no half-measures in training, despite the risk of picking up knocks which might end all hope of making it to France, where Ireland will play Belgium, Italy and Sweden in the group stages.
"Injury in training is a risk you just have to take in football, it could happen anywhere,” he added.
"I can't go into training every day next week thinking 'I won't go in for that tackle as I don't want to get injured' because that's how you get injured, when your mind's not focused. I am sure all the lads will be hard at it this week, trying to impress."
Regarding the calf injury he sustained while away with Ireland in March, Murphy says he’s over it and would have played for Town in their final games of the campaign had there been anything riding on them, but Mick McCarthy allowed him the time to make sure he was over the problem to give him every chance of being ready for Ireland.
"I am feeling fine. I stayed back an extra week at the club to work with the physio, just to top up my fitness and stay in shape,” the striker continued.
"I could have been involved in the last few games if we were going to be involved in the play-offs but the gaffer sat down with me and said there was no point in rushing things in case I aggravated the injury in any way, it was better to take it slow and make sure I was fit for Ireland.
"We all know how good the gaffer is and I think he knew this was the big chance for me to go to the Euros, probably the last opportunity for me to play in a major tournament as I doubt I'll get another chance.
"I could have forced myself back for the last two games with the club but it would have been a risk to try to force myself back, so instead I had an extra week's work with the physio and I feel good.
"I had a good week, out running on the grass, testing myself in sprints, I felt fine after each bit of work and there was no reaction which was the main thing. I got a break with the family last week, it was nice to get a bit of sun but it's down to the hard work now.
"If I do make the squad I have every chance of starting. The gaffer has been good to me and I have started games where I never thought I'd be in the starting XI and we got some good results. The manager knows what I can do for the team, I think he trusts me to do the job if called upon.”
O'Neill plans to name his final 23-man squad on Saturday after the Holland game, although says he could now wait until next Tuesday. Then they will take part in a week-long training camp at the Fota Island Resort in County Cork prior to another friendly against Belarus at Cork City's Turner's Cross on Tuesday 31st May. Their first game at the Euros is against the Swedes on Monday 13th June.
Murphy has made 20 international appearances, while McGoldrick, who returned to action in the final weeks of the season following a hamstring injury and scored two goals in the Blues’ last two games and impressed O'Neill, has previously won two caps. Both players are still looking for their first international goals. Former Blues skipper Jon Walters is also in the squad.