Shrooting for the top: Dons winger Robin Shroot is to play for Northern Ireland's U19s.
AFC Wimbledon winger Robin Shroot hopes he has taken his first steps towards captaining Northern Ireland after being called up to their U19 squad.
The 18-year-old has only a handful of appearances for the club he has supported since he was a boy, but it has been enough to impress Northern Ireland's U19 boss, former Manchester United star Mal Donaghy, who call him into the squad to face Israel in Tel Aviv on March 12 and 14.
Shroot admits that the shock news was the first step to fulfilling a boyhood dream of captaining his country.
He said: "I found out on Saturday morning when I got a letter through the door.
"I thought, hold on a minute - what is this?' It was surreal.
"I remember telling my mates I would captain Northern Ireland one day and hopefully this is the first step."
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Shroot, whose grandmother is an Ulsterwoman, admitted he had no idea the Northern Irish FA were even considering him for a place in the squad.
"It was a complete shock. I didn't know they were even watching me play," he said.
"Someone at the club told me they had asked for my details but I didn't think anything of it.
"To me it is still just a game I play down the park with my mates. Dons are the club I have supported and you just want to play. But you have to realise that you have to wait and take your chance when it comes."
Robin Shroot
"I am buzzing. I have just been given the chance to play for my country abroad.
"It will be an unbelievable experience just to be out there.
"Hopefully, I can get on the pitch. Of course I would like to start but I don't know the rest of the boys so it is all new to me."
The teenager is hoping to use the call-up as a springboard to gaining more first-team appearances at Kingsmeadow.
"I work hard and I just want to play football," he added.
"To me it is still just a game I play down the park with my mates. Dons are the club I have supported and you just want to play. But you have to realise that you have to wait and take your chance when it comes."
Dons boss Dave Anderson, also an Ulsterman, said the news was a boost for the club.
"I am delighted for him and delighted it is Northern Ireland for obvious reasons.
"I know the staff in the camp and he will get well looked after there."
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