Danny Rogers wants to force his way back into the Ireland squad by catching Stephen Kenny’s eye.
The new St Pat’s goalkeeper has impressed since returning from England last month, with the Saints on a five-game winning streak going into tonight’s clash with Derry City.
Rogers was on the bench for two of Ireland’s World Cup qualifiers under Martin O’Neill in 2016, at home to Georgia and away to Moldova.
Bohemians ‘keeper James Talbot is fourth choice for Ireland at the moment, but hasn’t played for the Gypsies since injuring his shoulder on international duty in June.
And Rogers, 28, is eager to challenge Talbot by laying down a claim to his spot in the pecking order of Kenny’s squad.
“I'd love to put myself in the frame for it,” said Rogers, who won 13 caps for Ireland’s U21s between 2014 and 2016.
“I was in a couple of (senior Ireland) squads when I was young and I've always wanted to get back into them.
“I loved when I went away with the team and we went to Moldova and we had Georgia at home. It's a different level when you go away with them. It's brilliant.
“It's a big aspiration of mine to try to get back into that team.”
Rogers was born in New York to an Irish mother and American father but moved back to Ireland aged five.
He went on to play for Aberdeen (where he had various loans), Kilmarnock and, most recently, Oldham.
He has an American passport and was called into a USA Under-23 squad in 2014, but pulled out in advance with an injured shoulder.
Rogers said: “I wasn’t really getting into Ireland squads at the time. I’m Irish.
“Ireland never took an interest in me (up to then) and career-wise, it’s international football so I couldn’t really say no.
“But the next Ireland camp that came up I was called into, and have been called into every one since at underage.”
