O’Hara still pondering Irish switch

IRELAND captain Robbie Keane has been pestering his former Spurs teammate Jamie O’Hara to switch allegiances to Ireland — but so far without success.

Wolves’ new €6m midfielder looked set to wear the green at the start of the year but said there was still a chance of playing for England before last season ended.

“Keano is a great lad and I’ve got big Irish roots — it’s something I’m going to have to think about,” said the playmaker.

“I want to get a pre-season under my belt, stay injury-free and have a great start to the season with Wolves. I’d love to play international football — it’s my dream.

“People have been asking me for two years about it and the Irish lads are great lads and it’s a great country.

“I’m half Irish and I’ve got a lot of family in Ireland. It’s just something I’ve got to think about with my family and see what happens.

“I wouldn’t want to disrespect Ireland because I love the country and I love all my family who are Irish.

“I wouldn’t want to be disrespectful and just say ‘I want to play for Ireland’.”

O’Hara, who struggled to be a regular in the Tottenham side, has signed five-year deal with Wolves that ties him to the Black Country club until three months shy of his 30th birthday.

“I was delighted to get it all done — the chairman has been brilliant and as soon as the season finished, it was a case of getting pen to paper,” he said. “I couldn’t ask for more. I’m already part of the club so I really can’t wait to play again.”