WHEN Callum O’Dowda was asked his ambitions at the start of the season, he thought big and was met with laughter.
Despite having had to cancel a dream holiday with his girlfriend, O’Dowda is the one smiling now.
Already, he has helped Oxford United to promotion, scored a goal at Wembley — albeit in a defeat — and, in theory at least, is in with a chance of gatecrashing Ireland’s Euro 2016 squad.
Not bad for a 21-year-old who has never played higher than League Two.
O’Dowda said: “It’s a bit weird because I spoke to one of the Press officers at Oxford and they said ‘What are your aims and ambitions this year, not only with Oxford, but with Ireland?’
“I did say I wanted to see if I could try to push into the senior team in Ireland and he laughed at me and said, ‘Are you serious?’
“And I said, ‘Yeah, I’m deadly serious’. I didn’t make a bet with him, I should have.
“That was my aim, I wanted ten goals as well and, spookily, I have got ten goals. I could say 12 because I’ve scored two for the Under-21s.”
It was his performance against Italy for Noel King’s side which caught the eye of Martin O’Neill, who had already seen him score in the Johnstone’s Paints Trophy final defeat to Barnsley.
O’Dowda revealed: “He said that I had a really good game and that he would be keeping tabs on me. I was waiting for the squad to be released and it was a big moment for me.
“I had a holiday booked in Aruba with my girlfriend Isabelle. That got cancelled straight away.
“I don’t know if she liked that and I didn’t have insurance so I lost out on all of it. But I’d take this any day.
“I’m glad to be here and hopefully I can catch the manager’s eye. I want to show people what I can do.
“And if I can get on the plane, then fantastic. If not, I will be working hard next season.”
Grandson of the late tenor Brendan O’Dowda who settled in England, Callum claims not to have inherited any of his musical ability and had not decided what song he would perform for his squad initiation.
He said: “He passed away years ago but I’ll always remember him, going to the house in Fareham.
He had a strong Irish accent. Hopefully I’m doing him proud.”
Younger sister Jade is a talented pentathlete while father Brendan now helps to look after his affairs following his retirement from the police force.
O’Dowdy was linked with a move to Derby County in January but said: “There’s been speculation all-year round with me.
“If there’s stuff on social media I try not to look at it. But it’s in your face sometimes and you do read it.
“I’ve still got a couple of years left on my contract so we’ll see what happens.”
He is honest enough to admit that, while being an ardent Oxford fan growing up, Ireland attracted less of his attention.
But he added: “As soon as the opportunity came I grabbed it with both hands. I would like to thank Noel King for bringing me into the Under-21s in March 2015.
“He has been good for my development. I am delighted to be here and I want to put my mark down.”
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