A FORMER Irish goalkeeping prodigy who retired from the professional game nine years ago has earned a call-up to the Republic of Ireland national team.
Shane Supple was tipped for big things as a youngster after starring as part of an Ipswich Town team that won the FA Youth Cup in 2005.
By the following season, he was playing regularly for the Tractor Boys and was the subject of reported interest from Charlton Athletic and Leeds United.
But despite playing in the first-team under Northern Irishman Jim Magilton, the arrival of Roy Keane at Portman Road saw Supple fall down the pecking order.
Loaned out to Falkirk and Oldham in subsequent campaigns, by 2009 and despite a return to first-team action, Supple had fallen out of love with the game and requested that Ipswich cancel his contract - much to the surprise of Keane and his staff.
"People probably think I'm crazy but I'm not going to stay in the game for anyone else, I'm making this decision for myself," he explained to the press at the time.
After Ipswich cancelled his contract, Supple returned to Ireland with plans to go back into education and train to become a chef.
At one point, the ex-shot stopper even looked set to join the Gardai before a recruitment freeze scuppered those plans.
In the end, Supple opted to revive his interest in Gaelic football by joining St Brigid's.
He also founded his own goalkeeping academy and began working closely with Leinster Senior League side Crumlin Town.
It was then that he found his way back into football after a goalkeeping crisis at the club saw him volunteer his services between the sticks.
His impressive form with Crumlin soon caught the eye of Bohemians who brought him to the club in 2016.
Now established as their undisputed number one, an impressive run of form has now caught the eye of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill.
With Darren Randolph, Keiren Westwood and Rob Elliot all unavailable through injury, Supple is set to complete a miraculous return to the spotlight.
Called up to provide competition for Peterborough's Conor O'Malley and Colin Doyle of Bradford City, the 31-year-old has no plans to return to England though.
"I want to play as long as I can, but I think that's going to be in the League of Ireland. Even if anybody was interested, I can't see it happening," he said.
However, Supple could now potentially feature in Ireland's upcoming friendlies with France and the United States. The first of those games will take place on May 28.
