Wilson ready to become central figure for Potters and Ireland
For starters, 12 caps by age of 26 is a measly return but his status as a mainstay of Ireland under the new management of Martin O’Neill offers encouragement that the upcoming Euro 2016 qualifying campaign will be his time to finally take centre-stage.
Club matters are certainly on the up too, his Stoke City side grooving towards their highest Premier League finish and points total since promotion to the top tier in 2008.
Just like O’Neill, Mark Hughes sees Wilson as a centre-back first and foremost.
Versatility comes with as many perils as perks, so Wilson’s quip that he’s played everywhere except goalkeeper for Stoke looks like being confined to the past tense.
“I come into training every day with a smile on my face and this has been my best season for Stoke and Ireland,” says the Co. Antrim man, set to partner Ryan Shawcross in central defence for the 23rd time this season on Saturday when the Potters’ visit Cardiff City.
“Last season was awful because I broke my leg and dislocated my ankle. It was my longest spell out of football and made me even more determined to have a good campaign this time.”
International matters didn’t start well though, as defeats over a week in September to Sweden and Austria torpedoed Ireland’s World Cup ambitions.
If there was some consolation, it was the arrival that followed of O’Neill and Roy Keane into the Ireland fold, two figureheads Wilson admits he worshipped growing up in Aghagallon.
Although he is 6ft 2ins now, Wilson’s short stature as an early teen often necessitated him operating in midfield for his club Lisburn Youths. Keane was the idol he modelled himself on.
Such was the youngster’s ascent that Keane’s club, Manchester United, invited him to train once a week at their Belfast Academy.
In parallel, teachers at his primary school, St Patrick’s, spotted a future Antrim Gaelic player in the making. They’d observed similar traits in Neil Lennon many years earlier but, on this occasion too, soccer won out.
Still, Wilson pinpoints the missing out on gracing Croke Park on All-Ireland final day in 1999 as one of his biggest regrets.
“I got picked for my school, St Patrick’s, to play in the mini-sevens at Croke Park,” he groaned.
“Unfortunately, it clashed with a soccer game for Manchester United’s Academy. Pity, because it would have been a massive day.”
Translating United’s interest into a contract offer didn’t materialise as the scouts chose to recruit fellow centre-back Jonny Evans from the group instead.
Despite the pain of rejection, Wilson deems the schooling as integral to his career development. Besides, it did allow him to gain a closer look at Keane.
“We’d travel regularly to Dublin to play against United’s feeder club at the time, Shelbourne,” explains Wilson.
“The trips sometimes involved us watching the Ireland senior games at Lansdowne Road too. Roy Keane was my role model and, as a Manchester United fan, I’d travel over to Old Trafford with my family to watch him as well. He knows the game inside out and getting to work with him and Martin now is a privilege.
“All of the Ireland players have great respect for both of them.”
A hectic schedule awaits Ireland in the second half of 2014, in particular the visit to Scotland in November for a Euro 2016 qualifier.
His Potters team-mate, midfielder Charlie Adam, has already got the banter in full swing since the draw in February pitted the Celtic cousins together.
“Charlie’s been dishing it out to us Irish players since the draw,” says Wilson, accompanied with laughter.
“He reckons Scotland are better than us but I can’t agree. It’s going to be some game, especially if it’s at Celtic Park, and November won’t be long coming around now.”
Before then, the immediate international duties come in May and June with four friendlies.
His brother’s wedding rules Wilson out of the second game on May 31 against Italy but he’s prepared for the other three — including a stateside trip.
“I’m best man for my brother, so he’d have my life if I wasn’t there,” he quipped. “I should be available for the rest of the matches and they’ll be important preparation.
“We’ve got a new lease of life under Martin and Roy. I think we got tired in the last game against Serbia because of all the club matches in March but the squad is shaping up nicely for the Euros.”
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