Kevin Doyle admitted it was a tough slog to get himself back into the Republic of Ireland fold.
The Wolves striker came off the bench against Latvia on Friday night in Martin O'Neill's first game in charge, marking his first international appearance in about eight months, and said it was a great feeling to be back in the national squad.
"You just put your head down, go again and get on with it, don't moan and try to get picked again. I did in the last squad and this time, so I will try to do the same," said Doyle who has been overlooked by former boss Giovanni Trapattoni for most of 2013.
"I was out for seven or eight months and it's a nice opportunity to be back involved again. I missed it, especially when the games were on, big games against Sweden and Austria in qualifiers.
"It makes you really want to come back and be involved again.
"It was tough, it was very tough. Four of us from Wolves went to the Euros and three or four months later, none of us were in the Ireland squad.
"The manager, Giovanni, told us at the time he felt with the morale at Wolves, it wouldn't have been good for us to come into the squad and I accepted that, I had no problems.
"It's not been easy, though. Actually, it's been very difficult. We haven't walked away with any games, but it's been enjoyable to be part of it."
