Luca Connell is committed to Ireland, says McCarthy

Luca Connell has told Mick McCarthy that he is committed to playing for Ireland and the manager has further revealed that but for a thigh injury ruling him out, the Liverpool-born Bolton Wanderers midfielder would have been in with a real chance of at least a cameo in the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifier against Gibraltar – an appearance which would have had the effect of securing his international future as an Ireland player.

Confirming he had been considering that possibility, McCarthy said yesterday: “Yes, yes, but because he has done well in training and not just to nail him down. No, not a chance. He impressed everyone in training.”