Republic of Ireland winger Callum O'Dowda has described his journey to international football as "crazy".
The 21-year-old has enjoyed a rapid rise into the Ireland squad having been playing League Two football with Oxford United just 12 months ago.
However, the youngster has since won promotion, earned a big-money move to Championship club Bristol City and made his debut for Martin O'Neill's side.
"If I'm honest, it has been a bit crazy. Obviously I set out to get promotion with my hometown club Oxford, achieved that - which was big for me - and then you've got the surprise inclusion in the Ireland squad," he told reporters.
"I had a previous conversation after the Italy game with the Under-21s with the manager, who said that he was going to keep on watching me at Oxford and he said, 'I'll try and bring you in in the future' and then just around the corner, I was included. And then after the Euros, the move to Bristol City came about."
O'Dowda could win his fourth cap for Ireland during Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Austria.
Barney Corkhill
