Pennant flags hopes of playing for Ireland

ON the face of it, he might just be the man to fill that Stephen Ireland-shaped hole — at least in terms of an ability to grab headlines — but there is no chance of Jermaine Pennant being parachuted into the Irish squad in time for the European Championship qualifier against Macedonia on March 26.

Indeed, a spokesman for the FAI says that the association is not aware of any contact having being made to date by either the player or his agent in relation to the former England U21 man’s stated desire to switch allegiance to Ireland.

Announcing that he has an Irish grandfather, the Stoke winger yesterday claimed that contact had already been made with the FAI about his international intentions, even though only last December he was quoted as saying that he had not given up hope on breaking into England’s senior ranks.