Travers out to traverse huge gulf in experience

MARK TRAVERS intends to take it all in his stride after being called into Ireland’s senior set-up for the first time.

With Liverpool starlet Caoimhin Kelleher selected for under-21 duty, Bournemouth’s third-choice goalkeeper is in Dublin to act as back up for Darron Randolph and Kieren Westwood.

Injuries aside, he won’t see action in the Euro 2020 qualifiers against Gibraltar and Georgia.

But this is a learning process for a 19-year-old who is soaking up all the experience he can get – starting with the song he’ll have to perform for his new international colleagues.

“I think I’ll go with Backstreet Boys,” the Maynooth man smiled. “I’ve never sung it before but hopefully it goes well.

“I’m buzzing to be called up. At the start of the season, I was just hoping to get into the under-21s.

“This is a real bonus for me. Mick hasn’t explained why I’ve been called in.

“I’m just going to try to take the opportunity and impress in training.

“Most people just say to be yourself, don’t change in training, keep doing what I have been doing and enjoy it, take the opportunity to impress the coaching staff.

“I feel quite laid back as well so I try and take it in my stride and hopefully it all goes well.”

Shay Given was his hero as a kid and he has tried to model himself on the Donegal man. But, as a Chelsea fan, he also followed Peter Cech’s career closely.

“I just loved diving around, saving all the goals,” he said, recalling a love for goalkeeping that began on the green in his estate.

“I was always the first to go in goals when we had matches. I just loved diving around in the muck – but my Mam wasn’t so keen.”