Sam Szmodics is hopeful he will finally get his Ireland debut after lifting the lid on his international frustrations.

The Blackburn Rovers star has been in phenomenal form this season, plundering 27 goals in all competitions and leading the Championship top-scorer chart with 21.

Szmodics was called up after an injury for the October squad by Stephen Kenny but had to withdraw due to 'personal reasons'. The Ireland boss then cited those same issues as the reason he wasn't considered for selection in November.

There were reports that Hungary were also taking a look at Szmodics, with the forward eligible due to his grandfather.

However, Rovers' top-scorer has disputed any suggestions he doesn't want to play for Ireland. The 28-year-old revealed he has been fuelled by previous snubs and is desperate to cap off a great personal season by playing for his country.

With Kenny now departed and John O'Shea in temporary charge, Szmodics hopes he'll finally get the chance to pull on a green shirt.

"Yeah, with the change of manager and the new manager coming in for the time being, I'd like to think I've done enough at club level to get the phone call and be recognised," Szmodics said.

"Hopefully I will finally make that Irish debut which I really want to do. I think it would just top off a good personal season so far.

"It's been up and down with Ireland with passport and then not really getting picked. People don't know, I've always been on standby but never been picked.

"You do take it personally because 20 people get picked and I didn't despite being on the top of the game in the last international call-up. I didn't get anything.

"There are loads of things that have happened. People read on Twitter than I don't want to play for Ireland but that isn't the case. I am doing everything I can and this time I'll hopefully get the opportunity.

"I read social media like everyone does. People have said I don't want to play for Ireland which is nonsense, I have never come out and said that. 

"I see people linking me with Hungary which is where my grandad was from. Again, nonsense, I haven't had anything. I've just been doing what I'm doing at club level and for the last camp, the phone didn't ring.

"That's out of my hands but hopefully with the new manager coming in and the way I've been playing, I get a deserved opportunity and I get to play."