May 23 2008

Action

Crystal Palace's SEAN SCANNELL admits he's excited about being on the verge of his first full Republic of Ireland cap.

The 17-year-old came off the bench for Ireland's practice matches against Portimonense and Lagos on the Algarve this week.

The squad is back in Dublin ahead of a friendly match with Serbia at Croke Park on Saturday and SCANNELL, who has an Irish father and Jamaican mother, is bracing himself for his international debut.

It's been an amazing year for the winger who was playing for Palace's Academy side at the start of the season but has gone on to pick up Ireland and Palace's young player of the year awards.

He said: "I just think to myself, 'How has this happened to me in the space of a year?' This year has been the biggest surprise for me – it has all come in the space of a year. It has been excellent.

"It started off out of the blue. I was just playing in the youth team and scored a couple of goals, and (Palace boss) Neil Warnock said if I was good enough to play, he was going to play me. From there, it all started happening."

SCANNELL's meteoric rise has nothing to do with his dad Brendan, who hails from Armagh, as he doesn't even like football.

"The first game I remember watching was Ireland against Spain in the World Cup in 2002 when they lost on penalties," said the Croydon born youngster. "I was 11 and watched it at home with my dad. He doesn't even like football, except when it comes to Ireland."

But it was last season that SCANNELL really pushed on in his development as his first team appearances for the Eagles led to representing Ireland's U17s, then the U21s before his call-up to the senior squad.

"I was nervous about coming in here as I thought Clinton [Morrison] would be coming as well but he didn't make it," said SCANNELL.

"But Clinton had told me about the Irish set-up and that everyone was welcoming and I'd enjoy it, which I have."

And his experience with stars such as Robbie Keane and Damien Duff plus head coach Giovanni Trapattoni will only make him a better player.

"Even if I don’t play, it will still be a great experience to be on the bench," he said. "But if I do, that would make me really happy.

“I am going to work hard now and just keep my head down and even if I don’t get a call-up for the World Cup qualifiers, just being with the squad will have been great."