DAVID Meyler believes Hull City team-mate Stephen Quinn fully deserves his Republic of Ireland call-up after an inspired campaign at the KC Stadium.
Quinn yesterday joined Meyler, Paul McShane and Robbie Brady in Giovanni Trapattoni's squad for tomorrow night's friendly with England at Wembley, where the midfielder will hope to end a promotion-winning season with a first senior cap.
Meyler was thrilled to see his team-mate swell the City contingent in the Irish ranks and said: "Quinner has been fantastic for us, our Players Player of the Year last season, which he deserved.
"The four of us have been together, worked really hard and to achieve what we achieved, and to be here, it's great. Stephen enjoyed being out with us, you could see that."
For Meyler, too, it promises to be a momentous occasion at Wembley.
The Cork-born midfielder turns 24 tomorrow and a fourth international cap would provide the perfect birthday celebrations.
"The opportunity to play England at Wembley is fantastic and to land on my birthday, I just hope I get to play," said Meyler.
"My family will be there. It doesn't get much better than that."
While the majority of their City team-mates enjoy a summer break, Meyler, Brady, McShane and Quinn now face the prospect of four games in the next fortnight.
As well as facing England at Wembley tomorrow, the Republic of Ireland host Georgia in a friendly on Sunday before the World Cup qualifier at home to the Faroe Islands. The sequence is rounded off with a glamorous date with World Cup and European Championship winners Spain in New York two weeks today.
That will shelve thoughts of Premier League football for the time being but Meyler is already preparing to take his chance back in the top flight with City.
"You can't take your place for granted," he said.
"Every manager is going to strengthen because he wants to stay up in the Premier League.
"Every day when you train, you've got to show the manager you want to play every Saturday and Tuesday.
"Same here, with Mr Trapattoni, you've got to turn up and impress, to show you're capable of playing.
"When we go back pre-season, every player will be bursting a gut to show they should be in the first XI for the first game of the season. I'll be no different. That's the way it should be.
"It's an opportunity to play against some of the best players in the world. The fixtures will be out in a month and everyone will be looking at the likes of Man United, Chelsea, and Tottenham. I've friends at other clubs and I'll be looking to see who they've got."
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