City rookie Terry Dixon today hailed his international call-up – and hoped it would finally put seven years of injury torture to bed.

Dixon has been put on stand-by for the Republic of Ireland’s under-21 European Championship trip to Liechtenstein in a fortnight.

It is a coup for the Bantams and for the 21-year-old, who is currently on loan with Halifax to gain first-team experience.

Londoner Dixon, who qualifies for the Republic through his Irish mum, was tipped as one to watch when he made his way through the age-group teams with Tottenham.

But the striker suffered a serious knee injury aged 14 – the first of three lengthy lay-offs that robbed him of four years of football.

Dixon said: “I had four operations on my right knee. I missed two years as a 14-year-old, another year at 18 and one when I was 19.

“I did wonder whether I would ever make it as a pro with the way I was. The state I got in was nowhere near right.

“But I got given the opportunity from Archie Christie to come to Bradford and I’m so grateful. I need to take it with both hands.”

Dixon signed a one-year development contract but having impressed the watching Phil Parkinson with a goal against Guiseley last week, he has his sights set on forcing his way into the senior picture.

He added: “Going out on loan has been good for me. I’ve played three 90 minutes and another game; with the injuries I’ve had, the more minutes I get the better.

“I don’t think about the knee at all now. It hasn’t swollen up once since I’ve been up here so I’m just looking to push on every day.

“I want to play for Bradford this season a good few times. Once I get fully fit, I want to be in that team week in, week out scoring goals, and hopefully the rest will come.”

Dixon has made one outing for the reserves when he came off the bench to score at Rotherham.

He has been training with the first-team squad and his progress at The Shay is being closely monitored.

Head of player development Christie said: “I’m absolutely delighted that his hard work has been recognised.

“He has made a comeback that everybody at the club is very proud of.

“We are sure he is going to go on and establish himself as the player everyone anticipated he would be.”

Meanwhile, City are assessing Jamie Devitt’s injury which forced him off early in the AFC Wimbledon defeat.

Parkinson said: “Jamie’s got a hip flexer problem and we’ll have a look at it.

“He’s an important player for us. He’s won us three penalties, scored one and made one, so you can’t ask for much more so far.”