Stephen McPhail's eventful season reached another landmark yesterday when he was named for the first time in the Republic of Ireland squad, for the February 23rd meeting with the Czech Republic at Lansdowne Road.
The promotion which insiders at Leeds United, had regarded as inevitable for some time, materialised on a day when his clubmates, Gary Kelly and Ian Harte both earned recalls.
There is also a first chance for Paul Butler, Sunderland's forthright central defender, who has filled an influential role in the club's largely successful return to the Premiership this season.
Inevitably, however, it is the inclusion of McPhail, born in the Bronx area of New York but reared in Dublin, which gives the squad most of its significance. From a long way back, Irish people have been talking of a prodigious new talent at Leeds and David O'Leary recalls a conversation he had with former Arsenal team-mate, Liam Brady, shortly after setting down at Elland Road from Highbury.
"I never thought I'd see another player with the kind of left peg Liam had but I remember saying to him that day: `We've a kid at Leeds who if he's lucky, has a chance'. And I'm sure Liam would now be the first to say that Stephen has a great career ahead of him."
That's an assessment which McCarthy readily endorses. "He's an exciting footballer who sees things early and hits teammates with the kind of passes all players like to get. And, as he's proved on occasions, he's no bad finisher when he gets within range of the net.
"With two weeks still to go to the game, I can't say at this stage, who will or won't be in the team. But I wouldn't be bringing the lad over if I didn't intend to use him at some stage. And, of course, the same goes for Paul Butler."
Born in Manchester, Butler qualifies for an Irish passport and by extension to play for Ireland, because he is married to an Irish woman. If that link sounds tenuous, McCarthy has no qualms whatever in summoning him for service.
"According to FIFA rules, he is eligible to represent Ireland and that is good enough for me," he said. "He is a player who has done well for his club and now we'll see how he handles international football."
Surprisingly, the squad includes Phil Babb who was thought to be out of contention for the Czech game because of Tranmere's appearance in the League Cup final at Wembley four days later. But McCarthy said yesterday that this was not his understanding of the situation.
"My information was that Phil was moving on loan from Liverpool for just a couple of games and wouldn't be involved in the Worthington Cup final. I haven't heard anything about a change in those plans but if there is, I'm sure that Aldo will be on the phone to let me know."
It was confirmed yesterday that Ireland will meet Scotland at Lansdowne Road on May 30th (7.30) in the first meeting of the countries since 1987. Immediately afterwards, the Irish squad will depart for Chicago where they open their US Cup programme against Mexico on June 4th.
