The English FA are aware of the name and they are monitoring one of Ireland’s most promising players.
Declan Rice, 19, has made 13 appearances for West Ham United this season and he’s now on the radar of England manager Gareth Southgate and FA technical director Dan Ashworth.
The London born defender – who can also play in midfield – has represented Ireland at U16, U17, U19 and U21 level, and trained with the Ireland squad in Fota Island, Cork, last summer.
Rice, who qualifies through the grandparent rule, has been earmarked as a player that could potentially make his senior debut for Ireland against Turkey in March, and Martin O’Neill and the FAI may want to fast-track his integration into the senior squad given that Southgate and Ashworth are monitoring the player.
“He is somebody whom we know with our technical department,” Southgate told the Irish media.
“We are across every young player and, of course, there are plenty of young players with dual nationality. Wales have several players who have been in our system and who have got caps.
“So we are always looking. We are aware of him, we are aware of his situation.
“It’s more one for Dan Ashworth as technical director than for me as senior manager.”
Speaking at the Ireland training camp in Fota Island last year, Rice said that he had to impress manager Martin O’Neill and assistant Roy Keane, and that he plans on visiting his grandparents home of Cork more often.
“I’ve just got to work hard in training and try to impress Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane,” said Rice.
“Terry Westley called me and I was sat at home and just couldn’t believe it when he said Martin O’Neil had called him up to say he wants me to go to the training camp. My heart was pounding and I was thinking: ‘Is this true?’
“My grandparents were from Douglas in Cork and I visited there a few times when I was younger. It’s a lovely place and I plan to go back there a bit more as I still have some relatives there.
“It’s a pity that my nan and grandad aren’t alive because its nice to be here in Cork where they’re from.”
