Dundalk striker Patrick Hoban is hoping to follow Sean Maguire and Graham Burke into the Republic of Ireland senior squad after bringing his tally to 18 goals in just 20 games with a hat-trick against Limerick on Friday night.
Maguire scored 20 times in 21 games to help Cork City win the league title last year. It was enough to earn the Waterford man a move to Preston North End and a place in Martin O’Neill’s panel.
Burke made his international debut against France last week after impressing for Shamrock Rovers this season and became the first League of Ireland player in 40 years to score for his country when he hit the back of the net against the USA on Saturday.
And Hoban, who is just 17 goals behind Joey Donnelly’s Dundalk record of 69 league goals, is hoping that his impressive run of form will lead another league title and some international recognition.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about it,” he told Dundalk Sport. “You look at the Ireland squad and I feel that my style, along with the way that Ireland play, it might suit me.
“Obviously you can’t get ahead of yourself. You have to concentrate on doing well for your club but it’d be great to get a cap for my country. It’d be one of the best moments of your life.
“I’ve never played underage for Ireland so it would be massive. All I can do is keep putting in good performances, keep improving and getting better with my game and hopefully keep scoring goals.
“Before I came here, I seen a few people saying ‘he won’t get 10 goals’ but that only puts fuels in the belly. I love proving people wrong and I want to keep proving people wrong.”
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