O’Hara to decide on Ireland’s call after World Cup

JAMIE O’HARA has confirmed he will make a decision about his international future after this summer’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

The midfielder, currently on loan at Portsmouth from Tottenham, qualifies to play for the Republic of Ireland through his grandparents and has been linked with a spot in Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad.

And despite being born in Dartford and representing England seven times at U21 level, O’Hara is pondering declaring for Ireland.

However he won’t decide until after the World Cup finals.

“Obviously, there has been some interest and it is a great honour to be asked to play for Ireland,’’ the midfielder said.

“That’s something I’ll have to look at in the near future.

“I’ve played for England at U21 level and I’ve always played as an England player. That’s who I wanted to play for growing up.

“It’s just something I’ll have to look at after the World Cup. I’ll sit down and have a discussion with my family, some friends and make a decision.

“I’m English and I’m Irish, so to be asked to play for either is a fantastic honour. I would be proud to wear any of the shirts.

“So when the time is right to make the decision, hopefully I’ll make the right one.”

Having established himself as a regular starter in the Premier League, O’Hara is certain he has what it takes to break into the England side.

He added: “I’d like to hope I’m good enough. I think I’ve proved to people that I am good enough to play in the Premiership every week.

“There are a lot of players in the England team now that are pushing on 30, so there has to be a new generation of players coming through. I’m only 23 and I’d like to think in the future that I could break into that team.”

The midfielder’s future on the club scene is also uncertain but he hopes his form for the crisis-hit south coast club will put him firmly in the shop window, should he prove surplus to requirements at Tottenham.

He said: “The fans have been fantastic to me here (at Portsmouth) and I have really enjoyed it, but I will be going back to Tottenham in the summer.

“I’ll have to sit down in the summer, have a chat with the (Tottenham) gaffer (Harry Redknapp) and see what he wants from me.

“If he feels it’s time for me to move, hopefully I’ve done enough this season for a few clubs to be interested.

“I feel I have done enough this season to be playing in the Premiership and that’s what I’ll be looking to do.”

Meanwhile Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie has decided to leave his post at the crisis-hit club.

A statement from the club’s administrator Andrew Andronikou revealed Storrie had left “in the best interests of the club”, although he will continue to advise them in a consultancy role.

Storrie had taken a 40% pay cut after 85 of the club’s staff were made redundant earlier this week as Andronikou sought to cut costs.

Storrie will be “remunerated accordingly” for working with Pompey on a range of matters, including the sale of the club, the FA Cup semi-final arrangements and other projects.