Talking to Joe and Nathan on Off The Ball, the Reading defender admitted that he would be gutted if he didn't make the final cut for the Ireland squad heading to France.
After getting on the scoresheet as his Reading side ran out 3-1 winners over West Brom in the FA Cup on Saturday, McShane revealed that he was hoping that he was still in the picture for Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane when they were making their final selection for the European Championships.
1 - Paul McShane has scored his first FA Cup goal since January 2007, in which he scored for West Brom v Leeds. Leveller.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 20, 2016
"I know when Martin and Roy first took over, I was playing with Hull at the time and then I got a really bad ankle injury and I was out for three months. I remember Martin and Roy ringing me and wishing me all the best [...] and then the lads that played in the summer did really well and I found myself out of the picture".
He added that although he was able to force his way back in, he was once again ruled out through injury for the playoff against Bosnia: "I was sick because it was a big playoff game and I definitely wanted to be involved".
However, despite that set back, he added that "I'm still in the fight, I'm still playing and I'm still available, so never say never. It's definitely an aim of mine to get to the Euros and that's my ambition, but I know there's going to be a lot of disappointed people and that's the nature of the beast. I'm just hoping that I can get on the plane".
Having been to Euro 2012, McShane admitted that the experience was not the same as it has been this time around under the new management team, and the last time out was a difficult experience given the high quality of the opposition they faced.
McShane was clear that he knew he needed to just concentrate on his football to force his way back into the team, but that he would be very disappointed not to make the team when it's finally announced.
"It's out of my control at the end of the day and the manager has a big job ahead of him to name the 23. Whatever happens I'll be supporting the team no matter what, but I will be disappointed, 100% [if I don't make the squad]".
It appears as though McShane is not the only Ireland defender who is looking to return to the squad for the Euros either, after reports on Sunday suggested Damien Delaney may be reconsidering his decision to retire from international football.
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