"Ask any player in the B squad and they will tell you they want to be in the first-team set-up," said McPhail.
"Hopefully I can impress and get a chance to get back in there.
"Watching the seniors train, I was quite envious and wishing I was out there with them."
McPhail has been a consistent player for City this season and his B team coach thinks he can make it back to the Irish senior squad.
"Stephen has genuinely been unlucky not to be in the full squad before now," said Pat Devlin.
"I think this is the first step back for him. He has always been a quality player and it is great to see him back for Ireland again."