Sean Kavanagh is convinced that Jack Byrne would hold his own as an Irish international.
Byrne is not at Ireland’s training camp in Portugal this week as Shamrock Rovers needed him for Monday’s win at Finn Harps and tonight’s clash with Cork City.
He was named in the provisional list for the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Denmark and Gibraltar in a fortnight, but has since been cut from the final squad.
Yet he remains in McCarthy’s thoughts as the Ireland boss got a close look at him when drafted into the squad proper for the March wins over Gibraltar and Georgia.
And Byrne will hope that he can play his way back into McCarthy’s plans for the tailend of the campaign.
Rovers team-mate Kavanagh feels the creative spark is just the type of player that Ireland could do with.
“Jack is one of those players where if you get him the ball, it doesn't matter what stage it is, he can handle it,” said the former Fulham man.
“I'm not bigging him up or telling lies but you could put him in the Premier League and give him the ball. He's as good as any of them with the ball.
“He's unbelievable and everyone has seen that this year, and rightly so. He's been in the Ireland squad and he's confident.”
Once of Manchester City, Byrne always believed he could put himself back on the map with is winter move home.
But he admitted in March that his senior call-up happened sooner than he ever envisaged.
It wasn’t his first time around the senior set-up as Martin O’Neill invited him to train with the squad before Euro 2016.
Kavanagh said: “He would definitely make a difference and wouldn't be fazed by international level - not one bit.
“That's just Jack. He's one of those players who gets people off seats and he's that little bright spark, if you give him the ball in the right areas.
“He can cut anyone open - it doesn't matter if that's in Euro qualifying or UCD or Sligo Rovers on a Friday.
“Give Jack the ball in the right area and it doesn't matter what stage you put him on - he will produce. Jack can hold his own whatever the surroundings.
“He's played at a good level over in England and if he does play for Ireland, he won't let himself down.
“We know that because we see him day in, day out. You can see the ability he has.”
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