It has been quite the couple of months for Andrew Omobamidele.
Fresh from breaking into the Norwich City team for the last eight games of their march to the Championship crown, the centre-back has also earned a first call-up to Stephen Kenny's Republic of Ireland senior squad.
He could make his international debut against Andorra or Hungary before he turns 19 at the end of June.
"It means everything to me really as a young Irishman," the Leixlip youngster told RTÉ Sport.
"Playing football, I started here, was born and raised here, it's something you dream of. It’s a very proud moment and I’m over the moon.
"I’m looking forward to it. I wasn't expecting it but it’s a really proud moment for me and my family."
Omobamidele thanked his mother Míde, who broke the news to him, for her support in achieving his dream.
"I wasn’t home at the time, I was in the gym. When I got home my mam was just over the moon," he said.
"She’s my partner in all of this, since taking me to training that’s 30 or 40 minutes away and stuff like that.
"My joy is her joy really. All my successes and my downfalls."
As for his soaring club career, Omobamidele is focused on nailing down his place in the Canaries defence and helping them to avoid a record sixth relegation from the Premier League, the most recent of which came after one season back in the top-flight in 2019/20.
"When you get promoted you want to stay in the Premier League. You don't want to keep going down and back up," he said.
"Hopefully this coming season we can solidify our place in the Premier League.
"I want to have a good pre-season because anything can happen now. As a young centre-back I need to make my stamp if I want to play.
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