Former Ireland defender Paul McShane has admitted that he still hopes to play for Ireland again despite a three-year layoff from the international set-up.
The Wicklow native played for Reading up to last Summer, but made the move to Brian Barry-Murphy's Rochdale in League One this year, making his debut last weekend against Accrington-Stanley.
And speaking on RTE radio, McShane revealed that he still harbours ambitions of playing in the green shirt once more, saying: “I do believe that I can play for Ireland again, yeah.
“I’ve been in this game a long time now and football can change very quickly. It did seem a million miles away the last couple of years.
"I’m back to full fitness, so touch wood, I can stay as fit as possible and get as many games under my belt and see where it goes.
“I’ll always be available for my country and who knows what will happen in the future?”
He also detailed how he would press the issue with former boss Martin O'Neill if he didn't make a squad while at Reading.
He added: “I’d make the phone call when I wasn’t in the squad. I think players need to be like that. You have to ask the questions and managers must have the answers.”
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