Ipswich Town striker David McGoldrick wants to make his World Cup dream a reality.

The Nottingham-born 28-year-old only discovered he was eligible to represent the Republic of Ireland after researching his family tree in 2014.

His international career has been limited to just four caps so far though due to an injury-plagued two years, his return to action at the back end of last season coming just too late to be included in Martin O’Neill’s Euro 2016 squad.

The silky forward, who again missed a big chunk of games at the start of this campaign due to an ankle problem, is now ready to make up for lost time and has impressed in the Blues’ recent games against Newcastle, Rotherham and Sheffield Wednesday.

That form saw him recalled to the Irish set-up as one of four strikers – along with ex-Town man Jonathan Walters (Stoke City), Adam Rooney (Aberdeen) and Kevin Doyle (Colorado Rapids) – ahead of tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier in Austria (5pm).

O’Neill and Roy Keane’s men are currently second in Group D, behind Serbia on goal difference, as they attempt to book their place at Russia 2018.

“Going to a World Cup would be massive,” said McGoldrick. “Even though Robbie Keane has retired it’s still going to be tough to get into that squad. There are a few strikers that haven’t been called up this time – like Murph (Daryl Murphy, calf) and Shane Long (hamstring) – so the competition is still strong.

“It was disappointing not to go to the Euros, I thought I might have snuck in at one time, but Martin O’Neill has called me straight back into the squad so that’s a real confidence boost.”

Murphy has played just one game for Newcastle since making his £3m switch from Ipswich due to a calf problem he picked up during the last international weekend. Reflecting on that deal, McGoldrick said: “I was disappointed for Ipswich but, as a good friend, I was delighted for Murph. You can’t knock him. It’s a massive opportunity, at 33 years of age, to play for a club like that.”