Terry Dixon has reported for duty with the Republic of Ireland for their UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier with Armenia on Wednesday night.
The 20-year-old striker joined up with his team-mates at the start of the week in Dublin before the match at the Tallaght Stadium, a welcome boost after a year of hard work. Dixon signed a three-year contract back in February 2009, having left Tottenham Hotspur the year before fearing for his future after a serious knee injury.
He has since worked closely with the medical staff at Chadwell Heath and recovered to play four times this season for the reserves with one goal. He has had to battle for match fitness but was deemed in strong enough shape to link up again with his country, having previously been called by the Irish seniors as a 16-year-old prospect.
Irish U21 manager Don Givens is hopeful Dixon can come back to the form that saw him first capped at this level back in 2006. "I have watched Terry at West Ham and he seems to be beginning to show the sort of form that made him stand-out so much before his injuries," he said.
"He has been terribly unfortunate over the last few years but he seems to be putting that behind him now. There is no doubt that he is a great talent. He was out of the game for a long time but it is great to see him back playing and I'm really looking forward to having him involved with the squad."
* Meanwhile Frank Nouble played 90 minutes for England Under-19s on Tuesday night as they drew 1-1 in an international friendly away to the Netherlands in Waalwijk. Nouble will hope to keep his place for the Elite round qualifiers this May for the 2010 UEFA European U19 Championship.