HAVING BEEN greeted upon his arrival by a barrage of media coverage equating his late call-up to a final dismissal of Andy Reid by Giovanni Trapattoni, Martin Rowlands could certainly be forgiven for feeling a little unloved as he settled down in the team hotel last night, writes EMMET MALONE

It is five years since the QPR midfielder made the last of his three appearances for the Republic and though a couple of serious injuries have played their part in keeping his tally of caps so low, international football has hardly been a major distraction for the 30-year-old. Still, he managed a rare smile after training yesterday when he was asked whether he had considered at one stage just when he might give up this whole Republic of Ireland malarkey to concentrate fully on his club career.

“When you say people retire,” he observed with more than a hint of bemusement, “you can’t really retire if you haven’t played that many games.”

Rowlands, the longest serving player these days at Loftus Road where he is immensely popular among the fans, is under no illusions about his position within this international group.

When he came on under Brian Kerr in the games against Romania, Jamaica and Nigeria – twice replacing Andy Reid as it happens – he was there due to the absence of more established figures.

This time around, he has essentially benefited from injuries to Darron Gibson and Steven Reid but he is positive about the potential of the opportunity, aware that he is not too far from being handed the chance to feature in a first competitive game and hopeful he might do enough even in training to merit further consideration for Trapattoni’s World Cup squad in the event the Irish qualify.

“Yeah, sometimes you think that, at 30, time could be running out but I’m really happy. I can’t tell you how happy I am. I’m 30 now and I’ve been given another chance.

“I’ve seen Marco Tardelli at a few games at QPR. I’m not sure if there has been contact between our staff and the staff here, but obviously I’m just happy that someone must like me and I’m part of it.

“Obviously the manager must think I’m doing alright to call me up again so I’m just happy to be here.

“Hopefully I can come over, impress and stay in the squad in the future.

“I think everyone is focused on qualifying first, but obviously then everyone wants to be a part of a squad that is going to South Africa so yeah, I’m just the same, and hopefully I can come in and do well, stay in the plans and be part of the trip over if we make it.”