YORK City right-back Lanre Oyebanjo reckons the Republic of Ireland will have nothing to fear if they meet England in the Euro 2012 quarter-finals.

Oyebanjo – an Eire under-21 international – believes that if his senior colleagues can negotiate a way past group opponents Spain and Italy then they should not be intimidated by Fabio Capello’s men.

If England top their group and Ireland finish runners-up or vice-versa then the two nations will meet each other in Poland to contest a semi-final place.

Of that prospect, Oyebanjo said: “If Ireland get through, they will have done well against Spain and Italy and, if the team have beaten or taken points off those two, then they would be more than capable of doing the same against England. It would be a massive game because of all the history and that would give the quarter-final even more of an edge.”

Having been born in England with a Nigerian father and an Irish mother, the City full-back did not develop a stronger allegiance to any of the three countries prior to getting called up by the Emerald Isle.

“Growing up my dad was a Nigeria fan, my mother supported Ireland and my brothers followed England so I just decided to stay neutral until Ireland gave me my chance of playing international football,” Oyebanjo explained. “I was never approached by Nigeria or England.”

Group ‘C’s opening Euro 12 match will see big guns Spain and Italy do battle with the Irish taking on Croatia afterwards and Oyebanjo believes that match could prove crucial if his country are to progress to the knockout stages.

He added: “It’s a tough group and we could have got easier opponents, but you want to be playing against the likes of Spain and Italy in these tournaments because they are big games. You never know what will happen because Ireland have earned the right to be there.

“Hopefully, the team can get off to a flier with three points against Croatia. That game is the must-win really because the team can then go into the other matches with confidence.

“I think Ireland have a good all-round squad. Shay Given is a quality player – he’s a rock – and Robbie Keane is obviously a legend, while the defence hasn’t conceded many goals recently either.”

The 21-year-old City defender also feels the Irish fans will add colour to the proceedings in Poland and Ukraine, having witnessed first hand the anticipation for next summer’s tournament while on international duty in Dublin ahead of the senior side completing the formality of a two-legged play-off victory over Estonia, following their 4-0 win in Talinn.

He said: “As under-21s, we missed out on the party as we flew back to our clubs after our game the night before but, after the first leg, the team were just about there anyway so the country was on a high and everybody was really pleased. The fans in Ireland are a very happy bunch and they will bring something different to next summer’s tournament.

“They know how to party and enjoy themselves and, in terms of the teams Ireland will be playing against, they could not be better occasions for the supporters.”

Oyebanjo is also hoping to emulate the full team by helping the U21s qualify got their 2013 European Championships finals.

The side have won three of their opening four qualifying matches but currently trail Italy and Turkey in the standings with the former Histon defender saying: “We’ve started off fairly well and we’ve got some massive games coming up later in the year but we’ve got a good squad.

“Robbie Brady, who’s on Manchester United’s books, stands out really and has got a chance of going to Euro 2012. Aidy White is also doing phenomenally well, playing for Leeds week in, week out in the Championship so I feel we’ve got a chance of making the finals.”

Domestically, meanwhile, Oyebanjo has admitted the start to his City career has been frustrating with a hamstring injury, suffered in September’s 2-1 defeat at Tamworth, curtailing his progress.

Despite being the only recognised right-back on the Bootham Crescent books, Oyebanjo has since seen his place taken by the impressive Jon Challinor and he has now picked up an ankle injury that is expected to result in him being unavailable for this afternoon’s FA Trophy clash with Solihull Moors.

About his 2011/12 fortunes, he said: “When I got injured, I felt I wasn’t playing too bad even though the team weren’t doing too well but, since then, it’s been hard to get back in because the lads’ performances have been very good. We’ve got a very competitive squad, probably the most competitive I’ve been involved in.

“There’s not just competition for my place either, but right across the board. Jon’s done well since going in at right-back so fair play to him. It means I have to raise my game to get back in and that competition is healthy.”

Mac attack in pursuit of December’s top player accolade

DAVID McGurk and Paddy McLaughlin are the early frontrunners for The Press Player of the Month award for December.

The pair are locked at the top of the standings having been the respective man-of-the-match choices from visitors to our website for the Telford and Kettering games, earning them two bonus points apiece.

As our second-highest rated players in those fixtures, the pair also picked up another two points each.

In the 7-0 victory over Kettering last weekend, Matty Blair was named The Press man of the match to collect three points with Jon Challinor (one) recognised for his efforts too, as our third-highest rated player.

During Tuesday night’s 0-0 draw at Telford, The Press man-of-the-match Jamal Fyfield (three) and Michael Ingham (one) won points, along with McGurk.

To be in with a chance of presenting December’s Player of the Month with their prize before a City home game, vote for your man of the match from today’s home game with Solihull Moors.

The Press Player of the Year standings: Walker 28 points, Kerr 15, Ingham 13, McLaughlin 12, Chambers 11, Fyfield 10, Meredith 10, Moké 9, Blair 8, McGurk 8, Challinor 7, Smith 7, Oyebanjo 6, Boucaud 5, Henderson 1, Reed 1.

The December Press Player of the Month standings: McGurk 4, McLaughlin 4, Blair 3, Fyfield 3, Challinor 1, Ingham 1.

Goals: Walker 15, Chambers 8, McLaughlin 8, Reed 6, Blair 3, Challinor 2, Moké 2, Pilkington 2, Ashikodi 1, Boucaud 1, Fyfield 1, own goal 1.

Assists: Chambers 9, McLaughlin 7, Blair 6, Meredith 5, Moké 5, Walker 5, Kerr 3, Pilkington 2, Potts 2, Challinor 1, Henderson 1, McGurk 1, Oyebanjo 1, Reed 1, Smith 1.

Bad boys: McGurk 6 yellow cards; Boucaud, Walker both 1 red, 3 yellow; Blair 4 yellow; Challinor, Kerr, McLaughlin all 3 yellow; Fyfield, Meredith, Moké, Parslow, Reed, Smith all 2 yellow; Ashikodi, Chambers, Ingham, Oyebanjo all 1 yellow.