I hope the plan is to give him pre season training and game time with the main squad, then organise a good loan for him.
I get it, there's another 2 young lads in their squad, one got a cap without a game for Arsenal and the other has only played a couple for Liverpool but at least he made a senior debut at club level first.
It's representative of NI, but doesn't alter my view.
For what it's worth i agree with ya.
Also anyone born on the island is entitled to duel nationality between NI and the Republic so there is a bit of an incentive for tying them down early.
Yep...NI tried to get Rooney in their full team at 15.
They're always looking to beat other countries to the punch.
Friendly's don't effect your possible future National team.
Shea Charles had played for NI when he was in the City academy. He wasn't good enough to play for City but he was definitely good enough to play for Northern Ireland
HKContractDave
Player Valuation: £15m
Remember Shayne Lavery getting an NI cap before any first team football as well
NI younger teams aren't exactly a jump up from ours
NI senior team wouldn't beat ours
So you're giving a lad a chance at a lesser team but still senior and in a no mark friendly, with less pressure.
Positives outweigh negative in this situation.
But he has played senior football in NI itself for a professional side in the country's top flight.
And he's played throughout the NI youth teams so progression through the ranks of his country is entirely valid regardless of his progress at his second senior club in world football.
If he had got on, he wouldnt of even been in the top 25 youngest players for N.ireland
FWIW if he made his league debut for us in August it would put him in as 23rd youngest player to make a league appearance for us (if you count europe he wouldn't even be in the top 50)
FWIW if he made his league debut for us in August it would put him in as 23rd youngest player to make a league appearance for us (if you count europe he wouldn't even be in the top 50)
That's a fair point.
And as I say, I know they give other players - like the Arsenal lad, a cap before he kicked a ball for a senior club.
I still think it's daft though.
Representing country should be pinnacle.
Sorry but that’s one of the daftest posts in this thread “ I’ve seen a picture of him , he’s nowhere near the first team yet” .
Thankfully his season is over, he needs a rest and maybe in the pre season people will actually watch him playing and make up their minds based on his football ability as to where he is.
Ok, well I hope those hormones kick in and he fills out over the summer. If not then I suppose it's another year in the u23s.
It would be just as easy to say he can't get a minute with NI, so it's more likely than not he's not ready for the PL yet.
