Paul Merson and Jeff Stelling would be delighted if this happened.
The Sky Sports duo asked last week why Harry Arter was not in contention for a place in the England squad after impressing for Bournemouth in the Premier League.
“I want to talk about one player in particular here, because Gareth Southgate names his first England squad this week,” Stelling said.
“Is there the remotest chance that Harry Arter could be in it, and if not, why not?”
“Exactly, why not?” Merse responded.
“He gets on the ball, he plays, he’s a good footballer, he’s got loads of energy. Something’s got to change with this England squad, what’s the point in just keep picking the same players?”
The only problem for Merson and Stelling is that Arter has played for the Republic of Ireland at senior and underage levels, and was about to be named in Martin O’Neill’s squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Moldova.
Arter could still play for the country of his birth as he has yet to play in a competitive game for Ireland, but that definitely wasn’t what Merse and Jeff were referring to when they called for his inclusion in Southgate’s squad.
Diego Costa played twice for Brazil in March 2013. The Chelsea striker started on the bench against Russia and Italy, making second-half appearances in both games.
A year later he was playing for Spain in Brazil at the World Cup, and the host nation had the hapless Fred up-front. Costa had his request to play for Spain, the country he had lived for six years at that point, granted after gaining a Spanish passport a few months after playing for Brazil.
Arter’s situation wouldn’t be as complicated. He has played three times for Ireland, against England in a friendly in June 2015, against the Netherlands in June and Oman at the end of August.
He was on the bench for Ireland’s World Cup qualifier away to Serbia last month, but didn’t get on the pitch.
As the 26-year-old hasn’t featured in a competitive game, he could still conceivably switch to play for England.
High praise indeed.. but kind of insulting at the same time https://t.co/p3UTG4v1NF
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) September 26, 2016
A few days after making his debut against England in June 2015, Arter withdrew from the Ireland squad to play Scotland at the Aviva in a crucial Euro 2016 qualifier with a groin and hip injury.
It was a more serious problem than first expected.
Arter didn’t return to the Bournemouth side until the end of October, during which tim he had missed Ireland’s qualifiers against Georgia and Gibraltar last September, and the game against Germany and Poland the following month.
An appearance in any one of these games would have meant he was fully qualified for Ireland.
Methinks some of Arter's 'injuries' conveniently coincide with Ireland's competitive games. Good for #afcb and keeps England option open!
— ChrisAFCB (@ChrisAFCB) October 3, 2016
He was an unused substitute for the Euro 2016 play-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina last November, but would then miss the tournament through injury.
There’s no suggestion Arter would rather play for England, or that he’s not fully committed to the Irish team, but we will have to wait to see him in the green of Ireland in a competitive match before that talk can be banished definitively.
The agent of one dual-qualified player is said to have cited the better commercial opportunities that would come the player’s way as a reason for choosing the Three Lions over Ireland.
Arter seems a level-headed person, but should the media clamour increase for an England call-up then it is not inconceivable that he would be tempted, especially as, even when fit and available, others have been used ahead of him by Martin O’Neill.
But there’s no suggestion that Arter isn’t committed to the Irish team, and it’s unfortunate that injury has prevented him from contributing in competitive games.
Roy Keane was asked on Tuesday afternoon by a brave person should Arter be playing for England, like Merson and Stelling say he should be, and replied, with a wry smile, “maybe so.”
“We are delighted to have him on board but he is committed to us and it is unfortunate that he has missed one or two games through injury.”
“It is a shame because he is an important player for us and he has been unlucky with one or two injuries lately going back to before the Euros. Fingers crossed he will be fit in the next week or two but not in time for our games.”
Roy Keane admits Harry Arter is struggling to make the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. #rtesoccer pic.twitter.com/xNGLLaypYA
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) October 4, 2016
Given Arter’s form for Bournemouth this season most Irish fans will be keeping their fingers crossed along with Roy.
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