Sean Scannell is hoping to round off a remarkable season by making his full international debut on Saturday.
Irish youngster hoping for chance to shine
Sean Scannell is hoping to round off a remarkable season by making his full international debut on Saturday.
The 17-year-old only made the breakthrough into the first-team fold at Crystal Palace back in December but after a number of impressive displays, including a winning goal on his home debut, has become a firm fixture at Selhurst Park.
He was named as the Eagles' young player of the year at the end of their Championship campaign, and received a call-up to the senior Republic of Ireland squad for their recent training camp in Portugal.
The young winger appeared as a substitute in two training games while on tour and could now feature in the weekend friendly fixture against Serbia at Croke Park.
Surprise
Having enjoyed a remarkable rise to prominence Scannell admits that he still has to pinch himself at times to make sure he is not dreaming: "Yes, I do actually," 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."
Faith
Scannell started the 2007/08 season in the Palace youth team and has been left bewildered by how quickly he has progressed through the ranks.
"It started off out of the blue," he revealed.
"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."
Experience
Even if he fails to get on the pitch against Serbia, Scannell admits that the experience will have put him in good stead should he be called upon again once the 2010 World Cup qualifiers get underway in September.
He said: "Even if I don't play, it will still be a great experience to be on the bench.
"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."
