Worthington frustrated as two more starlets opt for Republic
Worthington has admitted defeat again in his bid to persuade two more starlets to stick with Northern Ireland after Preston defender Daniel Devine opted to play for the Republic. It is understood that Shane Ferguson intends making the same move after the Newcastle United defender failed to reply to Worthington’s calls.
The North’s manager believes there must be further clarification on the eligibility ruling.
“It needs to be more black and white — to put all the indecision to bed once and for all,” he said. “It’s frustrating and disappointing that a lot of time, energy, commitment and finance goes into these players over a period of years and then when they are 17, 18, 19 or even 20, there is the opportunity for them, because of the ruling, to vacate to another country.
“There is a good production line here and to lose them is disappointing. I’ve left voicemails, text messages and made random calls to Shane (Ferguson) but at no time did we get a reply.”
A FIFA ruling allows Northern Ireland-born players to opt for the Republic. FIFA rules include a clause allowing players to change nationality once before they play a senior competitive match if they were born “on the territory of the relevant association”. The Good Friday Agreement of 1998 provided for Northern Ireland-born people to claim either British or Irish nationality. Darron Gibson, Shane Duffy, Marc Wilson, Daniel Kearns and Paul George have already made the move to the Republic.
Teenagers Devine and Ferguson, who played for the senior team in a friendly against Italy in 2009, have also represented Northern Ireland at youth level.
Worthington has brought three new faces into his squad for next week’s Nations Cup games with the Republic of Ireland and Wales. Crusaders pair Stuart Dallas and Jordan Owens get a first senior call along with Ipswich’s Josh Carson.
Carson has made an impact at Ipswich since breaking into the first team in March, with the 17-year-old winger scoring three times. Dallas has enjoyed a superb first season with Crusaders and the winger was named Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year.
Worthington has left out record goalscorer David Healy. The Rangers striker found game-time hard to find as his side wrapped up the SPL on Sunday, having left Sunderland for more regular football in January. Worthington did not consider the 31-year-old for the friendly against Morocco in November, but recalled him for February’s Nations Cup defeat by Scotland. The former Manchester United striker was suspended for the Euro 2012 qualifier against Slovenia in March.
Meanwhile although not yet confirmed, the expectation is the Republic’s away European Championship qualifier against Andorra on October 7 will be played in Barcelona rather than in Andorra.
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