Seamus Coleman will add another chapter to a "surreal" few months if he wins his first senior Republic of Ireland cap on Wednesday night.
The 22-year-old Everton utility man was already in manager Giovanni Trapattoni's thoughts as he considered using the depth of his squad for the friendly clash with Norway, but injuries mean he has a real chance of starting the game.
That would come as a huge bonus to a man who spent the second half of last season on loan at Blackpool, and he said: "It has been a bit surreal. A couple of months ago, I was at Blackpool and then coming into pre-season at Everton, I wasn't expecting to get as many games this season. I am just delighted with how it has gone - and the international thing is a bonus."
He added: "If there is any chance of it at all, I would be over the moon. I have just got to see how it goes the next couple of days in training.
"But I would be over the moon to make my debut at some stage in the game."
Coleman has become a fixture in the Everton side in recent weeks, playing on the right side of midfield rather than in his accustomed full-back role.
It is an illustration of how far his journey in football has taken him in a short time that on Sunday afternoon as he was playing for the Toffees against Arsenal in the Barclays Premier League, Sligo Rovers, the club he left to join them, were contesting the FAI Ford Cup final, which they won on penalties against Shamrock Rovers.
He said: "It could have been different, I could have been playing in that game. I am just delighted with the way it has gone for me."
Source: PA
