Blues strikers Daryl Murphy and David McGoldrick will get a chance to make their case for inclusion in Martin O’Neill’s 23-man European Championships squad when the Republic of Ireland face Holland in a friendly at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin this evening (Premier Sports, from 7pm).
The pair expected to play some part in the game, both could start, as O’Neill looks to narrow his provisional squad - already reduced from 35 to 30 - ahead of the tournament, where Ireland face Belgium, Italy and Sweden in the group stages.
Speaking to the Irish media yesterday, McGoldrick said Martin O’Neill has given him a chance other bosses might not have done, the 28-year-old after he returned to action in the final weeks of Town’s season having been out with a hamstring injury since December.
"I played four 90 minutes and I scored a few goals,” he said. "Obviously I’ve still sharpness to get but I feel I’m on my way.
"A lot of managers might not have selected me because of my fitness problems but he’s selected me so he’s got trust.
"I don’t feel like I have to go out there, get the ball and do 10 stepovers. I’ve just got to play my natural game and what will be will be. I’m confident if I get any minutes I can do well.”
He added: "He’s been to my games, but he wants the reassurance I can do it. He probably just wants some reassurance of what I can do because it’s tough for places in this final 23. I’m here and I want to be a part of that.
McGoldrick says he has been impressed by the dedication shown by former Town skipper Jon Walters since he has been involved with Ireland.
"Definitely. I see the hard work that he does,” McGoldrick continued. "He’s in the corridors stretching and you’re thinking, ‘Jesus, mate, ain’t you going to watch TV or something?’. But he’s always looking after himself.
"Isn’t he Stoke’s [all-time] top scorer in the Premier League? Yeah, he is. To see him still working his socks off like that, you know, me coming from the Championship looking up to a top Premiership player like that, it shows me I have to do things like that as well.
"It makes you realise that talent can only get you so far. Hard work gets you that little bit further. And especially now with all the injuries, that hard work is going to have to come into play now."
Asked once again about Premier League champions Leicester’s interest in signing him in the summer of 2014 when Town turned down their £7 million offer, he added: "I get asked this all the time. It was two years ago and people say ‘Oh, this could have happened, that might have happened’.
"Or, if I might have gone there, someone might have not been in the team. I don’t think a ‘certain somebody’ [Jamie Vardy] was playing for the team at the time.
"He may not have been in the team and his career could have turned out a whole lot differently. He might not be the superstar that he is now, you know? I might kick the ball differently to someone else. Things happen.
"I don’t look back to that. I just try to look to the future, scoring goals with Ipswich and with Ireland.”
McGoldrick has previously been capped twice, while 33-year-old Murphy has picked up 20 full international appearances but both are still to score a first international goal.
O'Neill, whose assistant is ex-Town boss Roy Keane, had planned to name his final 23-man squad after tonight's match, although he could now wait until after next Tuesday’s friendly against Belarus at Cork City's Turner's Cross. Ireland’s first game at the Euros is against the Swedes on Monday 13th June.