Jack Byrne relished brief senior squad stint

Following his fleeting introduction to the senior Ireland fold this week, Jack Byrne insists he will give Martin O’Neill plenty to ponder in the run-up to the European Championships.

His confidence levels are such that the Manchester City midfielder won’t discount snaffling a place on the plane to France but the main benefit to accrue from his three days amongst the top class is the marker he’s laid for inclusion during the World Cup qualification campaign kicking off in September against Serbia.

By then, he’ll have had a full season in the Dutch top-flight with SC Cambuur. Byrne may be anchoring a team struggling in the Eredivisie but, as he points out, John O’Shea underwent a similar continental schooling before making it big in Manchester.