Jack Byrne hopes club will focus will lead to future Ireland chances

Shamrock Rovers' Jack Byrne admits his desire to get back in the Republic of Ireland squad but his firm priority is his club form, in particular the upcoming European campaign.

Byrne was not initially included in Stephen Kenny's squad for this month's round of Nations League games but was placed on standby.

In any event, a calf injury picked up in a league game against Drogheda United ruled him out.

Byrne has four international caps to date since making his debut in a 3-1 friendly win over Bulgaria in September 2019, but hasn't featured since the 0-0 home draw against the same opposition in late 2020.

While he's largely been out of the international loop since his spell in Cyprus, many observers, Shamrock Rovers fans in particular, are adamant that Byrne's creative instincts in midfield are precisely what the national team are currently missing.

The two-time PFAI Player of the Season is philosophical, acknowledging that even without current injury niggles, he might not have got game-time against either Armenia or Ukraine.

"I can't say I would have been able to come on in any of the games or I would have been called up," Byrne told RTÉ Sport in a press call for the 'Lace Up With Pride' campaign.

"You'd love to play for your country, I've played before (for Ireland). It's really important to me to give my all so that I do have a chance of being called up again and being in and around squads.

"It was no foregone conclusion that I was going to be involved this time around.

"I obviously wasn't named in the squad, I was on standby. Of course, you want to be involved but I have to do my own stuff on the pitch, especially coming up to Europe.

"Massive games against good quality opposition. If I do well there, it's going to stand to me,