St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin believes midfielder Connor Ronan can follow Jamie McGrath's lead and work his way into Stephen Kenny's Republic of Ireland plans.
The 23-year-old is on loan at the Scottish side from parent club Wolves and scored twice in their 3-2 win over Aberdeen on Sunday, with one of those assisted by current Boys in Green midfielder McGrath.
The English-born player has been capped 14 times for Ireland at Under-21 level, including by Kenny from the senior boss' very first game in charge of that age grade and by successor Jim Crawford until the end of 2020 when he became ineligible due to his age for the current European qualifying campaign.
He also previously featured in the green jersey for the U-17s and U-19s.
With the midfielder in good form in his sixth loan spell from Wolves, Waterford native and former Ireland cap Goodwin who has six Irish players in his St Mirren squad this season, believes Ronan can earn senior international honours sooner than later.
"I'm delighted to be doing my bit for the international team back home as well," he told the Scottish Daily Record.
"Jamie McGrath's already had a call-up, and if Connor keeps on putting in displays like that Stephen Kenny will have a decision to make about him as well."
Goodwin, whose one Irish senior cap as a player came against Finland in a 3-0 win in 2002 under Mick McCarthy, also backed Ronan to develop quickly once he settles in fully to life at the club.
"He (Ronan) was outstanding (against Aberdeen). I tried for three windows to get him and I'm just delighted that Wolves have been so very cooperative as they saw this as a great step in Connor’s development," he said.
"I couldn't be any more satisfied with how he’s settled in to the group.
"He’s only going to get better as he’s nowhere near the level of fitness that we need. He knows that himself. That will probably be his first 90 minutes for seven or eight months."
Ronan's previous loan spell was at Swiss side Grasshopper Zurich last season where he helped them to promotion to the top flight.
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