Blackburn Rovers midfielder Keith Andrews admits this season has been a dream come true for him.

He secured a £1.3million switch to Ewood Park when former boss Paul Ince offered him the chance to follow him to Lancashire, and his form for Rovers persuaded Republic of Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni to hand him a first cap in the friendly defeat by Poland in November, in which he scored as a substitute.

Andrews said: "It's been fantastic. It's been hectic - I started off playing a couple of games in League One for MK Dons, and then the move to Blackburn and really the icing on the cake, getting involved with the Ireland squad and getting a starting place.

"It's gone really well. To get my first cap and score was very pleasing.

"The result didn't go our way [against Poland], but it was a friendly at the end of the day, so it wasn't the be all and end all.

"We didn't start well against Georgia, but we got the result and I was reasonably pleased with my performance.

"Things are going well, but I am under no illusions. There is a lot of competition for places in the squad, but I am certainly hoping to keep my place."