Wes Hoolahan can do no more to push his Republic of Ireland claims, according to his club boss Chris Hughton.

The Dubliner served up a virtuoso display in front of watching Irish chief Giovanni Trapattoni and his assistant Marco Tardelli at Carrow Road to help secure a landmark Premier League win.

Hoolahan had been consistently overlooked by the experienced Italian since earning a solitary cap back in 2008 before injury ruled him out of a friendly in Serbia prior to the new campaign.

Ireland's World Cup bid suffered a jolting blow when they lost to Germany 6-1 recently, and Hughton believes Hoolahan's Arsenal showing did his chances no harm after outshining the likes of Arsenal's much more heralded Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla.

'I thought he was excellent, but we know that with Wes,' he said. 'With Cazorla he is a player who has just gone to Arsenal and has surprised a lot of people because a lot of people didn't know him. People here know Wes very well from the period of time he's been here and we know what ability he's got. I don't think it would have been just this game, but they would be aware of his performances over the past few seasons. If he (Trapattoni) needed any clarification of that then he would have got it today.

'Yes, I have spoken to Wes about that, but it doesn't make any difference. I don't pick the team, pick the squad. I think every player wants to represent his country and I think Wes would be no different. I don't pick the squad, but on his performances I know what a good player he is, irrespective of any one performance, and I know what he's done at this club for the last three years.'

Hoolahan's City team mate, John Ruddy, has forced his way onto the international scene with a string of consistent Premier League displays for the Canaries. The keeper denied Mikel Arteta late on, but was largely underemployed to underline Norwich's overall supremacy.

'Fortunately for him, the performance was so good that he wasn't tested as much as he perhaps he thought he was going to be,' said Hughton. 'But that's the mark of a good goalkeeper, it's about concentration levels and making the vital saves when you need to.'

Declan Rudd was a surprise name on the substitutes' bench, with Hughton confirming experienced back-up Mark Bunn had picked up a 'slight' injury.

'He did it on Friday,' said the City manager. 'But it is very much a slight injury and we'll see how it develops this week. I can only see it putting him out for a few days, that's is all.'