It was a bit of whirlwind for Daryl Horgan on the international scene last month. Having been left out of Stephen Kenny's initial squad for the October international window, the Wycombe Wanderers player would feature in the games against Wales and Finland.
His cameo against the Welsh was especially impressive, so much so that there was little surprise when he was included in the squad for the upcoming fixtures.
With three games taking place in the space of seven days, it is likely Horgan will feature for Ireland over the next week or so.
While the UEFA Nations League games against Wales and Bulgaria are hugely important for Ireland's seeding for the 2022 World Cup qualifying draw, it is difficult to look beyond the game against England on Thursday night.
Meetings between the two nations are always quite the occasion, with the game at Wembley set to be no different despite the lack of supporters in the stands. Speaking to members of the media ahead of the game, Horgan admitted he is looking forward to the possibility of playing at the stadium.
I've never [played there], it's something I'm looking forward to. I've never even been in the stadium, so I'm looking forward to getting in and getting a runout the day before definitely and hopefully the Thursday itself...
When you're coming through there's a few places you want to play, your international stadiums, the club you followed when you were younger. Wembley is always one of them, it's up there with the Bernabeu and Nou Camp.
To get the opportunity to play there would be brilliant. An Ireland-England game will be unreal. Hopefully I get a runout, we will see how it goes. It will be a special occasion no matter what.
As if any more subplots were needed for this fixture, the presence of Declan Rice in the England squad has certainly delivered one.
Horgan was part of a couple of Ireland squads alongside the 21-year old before he switched his international allegiances. He says that while he can understand Rice's decision, he believes it is a situation that should never have been allowed to happen.
Look, we all know how good of a player he is. He's a very talented guy.
It's one of them, he should never have been in that position in the first place. There should be stricter rules where if you play a friendly, I think that's that.
The position presented itself, he was born in England and lived in England all his life. I can understand it.
It's disappointing from our point of view because he's a very, very good player, but I wouldn't hold it against him. He's a young guy and probably never felt that option would have been there...
We weren't in that many squads together, I think it was only one or two for a couple of friendlies going into the summer before he had to make his decision.
I wouldn't know him that well. I don't know how much contact he has kept with anybody to be honest with you.
For Horgan, he is very much embracing being back involved with Ireland.
Having not been a part of the international scene under Mick McCarthy, he is now being given a chance to impress by Stephen Kenny.
He knows the Ireland boss well, with the pair having worked together at Dundalk, a period during which Horgan's strong form earned him a move to England.
The 28-year old believes that his familiarity with the manager can be of benefit, but he doesn't feel that it was a factor in Kenny calling him up to the squad.
It's very good for me because I know what he's about, what he likes, the way he is, and the way he wants football to be played.
For him, he's just looking at 'who are the best players that I have available to me'. It was never going to be that if I wasn't playing well he was going to pick me.
He's got quite a lot of depth in talent in that position, there are a lot of good players in the squad and in and around the squad.
First and foremost I had to play well to even get close to it, but the fact that we have worked together before I'm sure it can't hurt.
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