Norwich City goalkeeper Mark Bunn has confirmed he is available for selection by Giovanni Trapattoni with the 28-year-old expressing the hope that he can seize his chance to impress the Italian over the coming weeks.
“It is one of my aims to try and break into the Republic of Ireland squad,” said the Londoner who was approached by the FAI in the autumn, “and if the opportunity arose I would definitely be interested in playing for them.”
Bunn has struggled to secure first-team football at club level and has played only a handful of games for Norwich. An injury to first-choice goalkeeper John Ruddy has thrust him centre stage, though, and he coped well at the weekend despite conceding late in the first half against Sunderland.
Up for grabs
“I think every player wants to play international football and play at the highest level and I am no different,” he said.
“I believe the goalkeeping spot with the Republic is up for grabs really since Shay Given retired. Keiren Westwood is first choice at the minute, but he is not playing regularly for Sunderland. I now have a run of games in the Norwich team and it is a good time for me to show what I can do.”
Bunn could find himself in the squad for Ireland’s game against Poland in February, when his team-mate Anthony Pilkington may also be expected to be in contention.
Rare goal
Paul McShane (26), meanwhile, believes he has put the uncertainty and injury problems that have dogged him over the last couple of season behind him.
The Hull City defender has rediscovered his form of late, having started almost as many games in the last two months as he had in the previous two seasons and scored a rare goal at the weekend.
“I’m really enjoying myself at the minute,” said the Irishman whose club career has been revived under Steve Bruce, “but the last two years have been the worst of my life.
“I’d only played a handful of games for Hull in that time but I always felt that I’d come to an age where I’m coming towards my peak. I’m not Franco Baresi all of a sudden but I’m doing all right at the minute.”
