Republic of Ireland senior international manager Stephen Kenny has left the door wide open for domestic players who aspire to wear the green shirt.
The question of whether some League of Ireland players can make the step up to international football has frustrated previous Irish bosses but Kenny's comments today will give hope to those plying their trade on these shores.
The Tallaght native isn't the first ex-League of Ireland manager to take the biggest job in Irish football and during today's media briefing he bristled at the suggestion that he is looking to succeed where they did not.
"I think that's a little unfair, I feel, on the three people in question," replied Kenny.
The three men in question where Liam Tuohy, after his stints Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk, Eoin Hand - who had managed Limerick United - and St Patrick's Athletic legend Brian Kerr.
"Liam's stint was probably brief I think but both Eoin and Brian had a lot of good results with Ireland. So I think that's probably unfair. I wouldn't be looking to right anything.
"As an individual and as part of a collective team, I'm determined to be successful so that the whole nation can experience great highs and watch a team excite the Irish public. That's what I want."
Managers in the past have had to explain why they did not want to pick certain in-form players who were shooting the lights out in the domestic league.
In many cases their reasoning was sound but with the gap in standard between the League of Ireland and international football closing, ever so slightly, some players have been given a chance.
Dundalk duo, playing for Kenny at the time, Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle were called up by Martin O'Neill while last year Shamrock Rovers midfielder Jack Byrne impressed while making his debut under Mick McCarthy.
"It's not an absolute criteria but it does help when there's progress in Europe and the players are playing in either the Europa League or Champions League qualifiers," explained Kenny when asked if he would consider players playing here.
"Hopefully teams can progress this year again in that regard. It does help. I think that helped Daryl Horgan in the past and Andy Boyle progress because of that period with Dundalk in 2016.
"I don't discriminate against anyone, no matter where they are playing and certainly we've seen a really high standard of a game between Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers recently in Tallaght.
"Everyone will be judged on their own individual merits. You want players playing at the highest possible level but at the same time, there are players who can emerge and you can't dismiss that."
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