CHEERS STEVE
"I was a little disappointed not to go to the World Cup with Ireland,"
"The press back home were really pushing it and that, of course, built my hopes up. I understand it was a close thing but it probably came a little too soon for me.
"I had only had a handful of matches for United last term and to be truthful Mick McCarthy couldn't really pick someone on the fringes. That was understandable.
"If the World Cup was next month I'd be in with a better shout now having made 12 appearances already this term and the fact that Steve Staunton having retired has opened up a vacancy.
"It knocked me back a bit confidence-wise when I wasn't chosen to go to Japan. People were telling me I was only young but that wasn't a comfort when you are so close to going to something like the World Cup.
"But I soon came to understand the reasons behind it and now that disappointment drives me on to be a guaranteed in the squad. I want to be one of the first names Mick McCarthy writes on his squad sheet.
"That is my aim for 2004 in Portugal. I want to make sure I am a definite member of the squad."