REPUBLIC OF IRELAND boss Martin O’Neill has said players such as Mark Noble need to show they want to play for his side before he would consider them for inclusion in his squad.
Noble appeared on Sky Sports’ ‘Goals on Sunday’ show yesterday and revealed his agent had been in contact with O’Neill but also added that it would be “strange” to play for Ireland.
“I would find it a little strange to pull on the green jersey, only because I’ve captained the England U21s. But, you never know – football is a strange game and I will make a decision over the next couple of weeks.”
O’Neill was asked about Noble’s statement after Ireland’s training session today and suggested he’d rather players were 100% committed one way or another.
“I haven’t seen the interview but I’ve been told about it. I think John O’Shea made a comment today which I would wholeheartedly agree with. I think you have to show you want to play for the country and if that’s the case, then encouragement would be there.
“But at some stage or another, if you’re indecisive about something, I’m not so sure that augurs brilliantly for stuff.
“From my own viewpoint that’s how I would look at it. I want players who really do want to play.”
O’Neill said the situation is different than the one involving Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish – who, having played for Ireland at youth level if considering declaring for England – because of the age and experience of both players is vastly different.
“You can understand young Grealish at this minute, 18 years of age, maybe having decisions to make one way or another. I don’t really want to put that sort of pressure on.
“But I’m talking about established players here who have played for some time. If Mark Noble decides that England is not for him and really genuinely wants to play, then I will have a look at it, but we’ll see.”
