JONNY HAYES

Aberdeen winger received his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad for this week’s friendly with Switzerland. Jonny spoke to the Irish media on Monday.

“I thought it was a wind-up at first. I was relieved when it was his number. (Martin O’Neill)

“I’d seen the number ringing and didn’t know the number so I thought I’d leave it go to voicemail.

“I listened to it and thought, ‘It’s only a wind-up, I’ve too many friends who would do that to me’.

“I rang Derek McInnes and he said Ireland had been in touch for my number and as soon as I found out, I rang back straight away.

“He told me I was in the provisional squad and had a good chance to be in the full squad.

“I sat down with my partner, and my family were over at the time, so it was good to share the news.”

“It was a bit unexpected. It’s only in the last 18 months or two years that I can look back and think, ‘I am doing
alright now, I wonder where did the years go?’

“You look at someone like Jonathan Walters, coming in at a late age, a few players have done that. There’s a small chance it could happen, if it is there, you have to try and take it.

“It’s not a target that I set out for but it’s a chance I’d love to take.”

“I would love to be involved in the European Championships.

“But it’s a long, long way away. I’m realistic enough about that, being in the squad is a step in the right direction.”