David McGoldrick has come a long way in a short space of time.

At the start of the summer of 2018, the then Ipswich Town striker was struggling. Injuries had kept him out of The Tractor Boys team, and he knew his time at the club was coming to an end.

But 14 months later, he’s playing in the Premier League after scoring 15 goals during Sheffield United’s run to promotion from the Championship last season.

McGoldrick has played all four games as United have picked up five points so far this season, and he says that he’s in a good place right now.

"If I’m honest, a year ago, looking at it when the phone wasn’t ringing, I think playing in the Premier League would have been quite a long stretch away to look at," he admits.

"A few clubs (last summer) said 'yeah, maybe.' Then Sheffield United came with a bit of interest, and I pushed the interest. I went down there, and after a day or two they said they wanted to sign me.

"The main clubs were worried about my injury record. I just proved to them that I was fine.

"I was always confident that once I got myself sorted I could go on and hit some form, and I did that. I’m here now, and thankful for it.

"Getting back into the Ireland squad, being a Premier League player, I don’t want it to stop now because this is what I’ve been aiming for all my career."

Enda Stevens and McGoldrick in action for United

McGoldrick is one of four Irish players in the current Sheffield United squad, along with defenders Enda Stevens and John Egan, as well as striker Callum Robinson.

With Shane Long and Sean Maguire both absent from the squad, Thursday night's Euro 2020 qualifier against Switzerland might present a chance for McGoldrick to score a first goal in green, after having one scored against Gibraltar chalked off earlier in the campaign.

"Yes, most definitely," is his response when asked this is his best period in international football.

"I've started all the games under Mick, which is a good confidence boost for myself. Goals would be nice to go with it, and I'm sure they will come. But playing is nice, and it's going well.

"First and foremost, qualifying is most important. Obviously any striker is judged on goals, wants to score goals. I want to score goals every day, in training and in games.

"When it hit the post, and bounced out against Gibraltar, I thought 'of for f-sake...' They're coming. I'm getting chances, that's the main thing. One will go in, and then hopefully the rest will follow."

The shortage of strikers in the squad might well see McGoldrick paired with his club teammate Robinson on Thursday night.

He says that they have been working well together since Robinson joined from Preston North End during the summer.

"I train with him every day at club level. Know the things that he does, the little movements he likes doing. We worked a lot in pre-season together, so if we do play together at international level, it can only bode well for the country.

"I'm not sure what the formation might be, but we've struck a little bond and hopefully we can bring that club form into the national set-up."

Follow Republic of Ireland versus Switzerland tomorrow via our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and the News Now app or watch live on RTÉ2 from 7pm.