Former Republic of Ireland captain John O’Shea has said that Ireland will no longer chase players to come play for the national team after Declan Rice’s switch to England last month.
Rice had played three games for Ireland before switching his international allegiance to the Three Lions and O’Shea said that the national team would no longer chase down players in the aim of convincing them to come play for the Republic amid reports former England underage international Will Keane may declare for the Boys in Green.
“I would have known Will and Michael [Keane], Will was playing with England and Michael was playing with Ireland underage. So, there’s been a little role reversal there!,” said O’Shea.
“Fantastic lads, good fellas, and Will has had a terrible run with injuries, I think he picked up a bad hamstring injury at Ipswich recently, he was just after getting back in and getting a run of games.
“So, that’s unfortunate for him, but as I said, no more chasing, if the players want to come, great, if they don’t… That’s the key thing, we can ask the question, but ultimately, if the player comes, great, if he doesn’t, move on.”
Rice scored for West Ham United in their win over Newcastle United while former Ireland underage international Jack Grealish scored a superb volley for Aston Villa but O’Shea insists that his side must now focus on the players that want to be involved with the national setup.
“Just quickly going back to the whole saga, just from how he had spoken and how he had trained and played, that whole thing was disappointing in that aspect for me but the way the rules are that option was there for him and he’s taken it.
“We now have to move on from it, we have plenty of players wanting to come and give everything for the team and the squad and the more we get behind them players the sooner the better.”
