GLENN Whelan is hoping his successful international breakthrough with Ireland will now tee him up for the greatest test of his club career.

The 24-year-old midfielder realised a lifelong ambition when following up the euphoria of Stoke's promotion in May with the joy of making that coveted debut for the Irish.

Now he wants to build on that terrific accomplishment with more caps – and knows his form for Stoke is the only route to furthering that ambition.

“When I first met up with the Irish squad I thought I might get a couple of minutes here and there, but to play both games and for the 90 minutes was unbelievable,” said Whelan.

He was particularly impressive in his Dublin debut in a 1-1 draw with Serbia, but was no slouch in his second game either when Ireland notched up their first win for new boss Giovanni Trappatoni in a 1-0 success against Colombia at Fulham's Craven Cottage.

“It felt like a great achievement playing my first game, and at Croke Park in Dublin, and luckily I managed to get everybody there to watch me.

“I found out I was playing the day before and got tickets for all the family, it was a great experience.

“I wouldn't say I was really nervous. I suppose there were a few butterflies beforehand, during the anthems and that, but once the referee's whistle goes it really is just another match.

“In the second game against Colombia we probably came up against better quality. We got one up early on and then they had a lot of possession during the game.

“To get our first win under the new manager – and in only his second game – was great for everybody.”

Trappatoni was later quoted as being more than satisfied with Whelan's fledgling contribution to the Irish cause – and justifiably so given it was his first taste of senior international football and arrived shortly after an emotionally-sapping promotion campaign.

But Whelan heard little from the Italian himself, it seems, and must now anxiously await news of any further call up for Ireland's impending World Cup qualification campaign.

“Not a lot was said after the second game,” he said, “because the two friendlies had come in the summer holidays, so after the second game everybody went their separate ways.”

Ireland are now bracing themselves for a World Cup qualifying group that sees Italy, Georgia, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Cyprus standing between them and that coveted passport to the finals in South Africa in 2010.

And any subsequent selection for that qualifying campaign will provide Stoke with more than just a feather in their cap.

“I've always said that if I'm not playing well for Stoke City I won't get in, so I have to be doing it here to get picked for Ireland,” he said.

“We've got some tough teams to face in qualifying, but first I have to be playing well for Stoke to try to get myself picked.”

Playing for the Irish also gave him an early insight into the ways and means of Trappatoni, the ageless Italian with a managerial CV to die for after concerted success with the likes of Juventus, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich and Benfica.

Now aged 69, the greying father-figure of modern coaching bears more resemblance to one Tony Pulis than you might first imagine.

“We had two-and-a-half weeks away with him and he's very good,” added Whelan.

“He's obviously a top manager whose won a lot of trophies over the years. He's very enthusiastic and always on the training pitch, like our own gaffer.

“They've got a quite similar personality, always vocal and always letting you know what they want from you and the team.”