Ciaran Clark has been handed a surprise international call-up for Ireland.
The defender has not played a Premier League game for Newcastle United since February due to a broken ankle, having featured just twice this season in the Carabao Cup.
Clark, 31, has been fit enough to be named as a sub in the Magpies' last two Premier League matches but failed to get off the bench in either game.
Yet he could be handed some much-needed senior football after being called up as an injury replacement to Stephen Kenny's Ireland squad.
Kenny has lost Seamus Coleman, John Egan and Harry Arter to injury ahead of Ireland's Nations League fixtures against Wales and Bulgaria.
Callum Robinson and Alan Browne have also had to drop out due to positive coronavirus tests.
It means Clark has been drafted into the squad along with Darragh Lenihan, Jason Knight, Josh Cullen, Jack Byrne and Ryan Manning.
Newcastle boss Steve Bruce is known to be a big fan of Clark and will no doubt be monitoring his progress with Ireland with interest.
Speaking at the end of last month, Bruce said he was delighted that Clark was returning to fitness after also suffering a thigh injury.
He said: "Ciaran Clark in particular did really well for me until he broke his ankle.
"Ciaran is in a better place after playing against Morecambe in the League Cup.
""He did his thigh, but the more we have back the better. With the injuries in the Premier League are up by 40% so we're not alone.
"We always expected it. When I looked at the fixture list - December especially - it looks obscene.
"The more we get back fit the better we will be."
