Blues boss Kieran McKenna says everyone at the club is delighted for Jack Taylor, who was named in the Republic of Ireland squad earlier today along with teammates Dara O’Shea, Sammie Szmodics and Chiedozie Ogbene.

Hammersmith-born Taylor, 26, is yet to win a senior cap, despite having received the first of several calls into squads in November 2020 and having won seven U21 caps.

His lack of regular football after joining the Blues last season saw him drop out of the picture but new Irish boss, Icelander Heimir Hallgrimsson, has been impressed with what he’s seen of the former Peterborough man, who qualifies for Ireland through his grandfather from County Longford.

“And then Jack Taylor as well, getting bigger and bigger roles at Ipswich,” Hallgrimsson said at his press conference following the announcement of today’s squad.

“A good attacking midfielder, good on the ball, dribbling, running with it, just a quite good attacking player.”

Town boss Kieran McKenna is pleased for the one-time Barnet man: “We are delighted for Jack. I think everyone in the building is buzzing for Jack to be called up to the Ireland squad.

“Everyone is absolutely delighted for him. When I first spoke to Jack a couple of years ago, his career goals were to play for Ireland and play in the Premier League.

“So we are really, really happy that he has reached those milestones and now it will be about setting new milestones and pushing on from there.

“I think he has made a good impact. I think it is now four appearances he has made in the Premier League so far and I think he is a really good role model for the group at the moment.

“He didn’t play in the Fulham game or against AFC Wimbledon in the cup as we were integrating some new players and it would have been easy at that stage to drop your head.

“But his training over the last few weeks after that has been excellent, he worked in a really positive manner. He got his opportunity coming off the bench against Southampton, did really well and took the game by the scruff of the neck. And again, he was a big positive coming off the bench again last weekend.

“He has shown good attitude and good qualities and took some good steps in his career in terms of making his Premier League debut and hopefully over the next couple of weeks, his international debut.

“We are happy he is here and we know he is going to keep working hard to have as strong a season as he can.”

Despite the four members of the Irish squad - as well as goalkeeper-coach Rene Gilmartin, who works in a similar role with their U21s - McKenna says not too much is made of it with no Irish five-a-side team in training games or anything like that.

“It doesn’t get mentioned,” he said. “From the outside it looks like there’s a collection of Irish lads, but everyone mixes in together, it’s not something that gets mentioned a whole lot.

“I think everyone’s just delighted for Jack, as you are with any player when they get their first international call-up, especially everyone having seen the journey that they’ve been on in the last few years.”

McKenna is also pleased to see Nathan Broadhead and Wes Burns included in the Wales squad under new boss Craig Bellamy having missed out last month due to knocks.

“Both were injured last time,” McKenna recalled. “Wales have had a good start under the new manager in the last break and I know they’re both looking forward to being involved, but I also know they’re both 100 per cent focused towards helping the team on Saturday.”

Photo: Matchday Images

ImAbeliever added 17:43 - Oct 3 Amazing on Sunday, instant impact, class.
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algarvefan added 09:23 - Oct 4 Well done Jack, very much deserved, an important member of our squad.
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