Robbie Brady wants to make up for lost time and insists he can help fire Ireland to Euro 2020.
“I’m feeling sharp and I believe I can show what I’ve got,” said the Burnley winger who hasn’t featured in the last four games. "I’m in a good place now and all the badness from the last couple of years is behind me.”
Despite recovering from two broken ribs, Brady was left out of last month’s squad for the games against Georgia and Switzerland.
He phoned Mick McCarthy to vent his frustration as he felt he could play his part but then acknowledged a lack of club games counted against him.
But the Euro 2016 hero will start against New Zealand tomorrow with McCarthy urging him to play his way into the team for Denmark.
Brady said yesterday: "It was disappointing when you’re left out having been in the squad for such a long time. I felt that I had something to offer.
"But it's the manager's job to pick a strong squad and I was not playing enough Premier League minutes at the time."
“I made contact and we had a chat. I just wanted him to know that it was disappointed and that I’d do all I could to get back into the squad.
“I've managed to do that. Squads were being announced and it was hard to take. But I’ve got my head down and trained well.
“This is a good opportunity. I'm looking forward to Thursday to show what I am about and show that I should be here.”
And dead-ball specialist Brady is backing himself to get Ireland’s stuttering attack firing again after just six goals in seven games.
Ireland have to beat Denmark to secure automatic qualification and Brady said of lending a creative hand: “That's my job in the team.
“If that's not being done then you have every right to be criticised.
"Sometimes it's the forwards’ job to score goals and be knocking on the door but I'll be looking to create as many chances as I can.”
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