Hoolahan hopes City form will bring further Irish caps

Wes Hoolahan is hoping to prove himself at Championship and international level. The Republic of Ireland midfielder has just one cap to his name after a brief appearance off the bench against Colombia in May, 2008 a month before he moved to Carrow Road from Blackpool.

Wes Hoolahan is hoping to prove himself at Championship and international level.

The Republic of Ireland midfielder has just one cap to his name after a brief appearance off the bench against Colombia in May, 2008 a month before he moved to Carrow Road from Blackpool. But his impressive form for Norwich could earn him a recall under Giovanni Trapattoni.

"The move to Norwich was designed to give me a higher profile and improve my chances of adding to my one cap," he said. "If I keep scoring goals and doing well, I hope it will happen, but if it does it's a bonus. Yes, I want to play at the highest level. In the Championship I felt comfortable playing on the left wing, but now I want to see how well I'd do there in my new role. That's the next step."

In an interview with the Irish Independent, Hoolahan admits he has had a new lease of life under manager Paul Lambert, despite their shaky start, when he was banished to the reserves.

"He was talking about people being on their way out of the club," he said. "I was included in that, and I was dropped for a few games, while Gary Doherty was put on the transfer list. It was a strange one, and obviously I was a bit down, but I worked hard, played for the reserves, scored two goals, and after two games he brought me back and I've started the 15 games since."

Lambert's decision to play Hoolahan just off the front two has worked a treat - and he has been rewarded with 13 goals, 10 of them in the league.

"The manager switched me to this new role, in the hole behind the two strikers, Gary Holt and Chris Martin, and they're loving the service I've been laying on for them," he said. "That service comes in different ways. Recent goals laid on involved a cross, a ball slid through for the striker to run on to, and a one-two to put the striker clear. The manager said the role suits me down to a T, because you need a good knowledge of the game. I'm not normally scoring goals, usually creating them, but in this role I've been reading the situations well, getting into good positions, shooting from outside the box - and they're going in a lot lately."

Hoolahan's form has helped City to� second place in League One.

"Leeds will be promoted and second place is up for grabs between ourselves, Charlton and Colchester, who are on a decent run, and Huddersfield, who are a very good team," he said.