Cardiff regular Joel Bagan switches international allegiance to Ireland

Cardiff City's Joel Bagan holding off Peterborough United's Joe Ward (left). Bagan will be named in the Republic of Ireland U21 squad on Friday. Picture: Joe Giddens/PA 

Cardiff City manager Mick McCarthy has confirmed that his regular left-back Joel Bagan has switched allegiance from Scotland to declare for Ireland.

The 19-year-old will be named by Jim Crawford on Friday in his squad for the Euro 2023 opening qualification double-header in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Luxembourg on September 3 (3.30pm, Irish time) and September 7 respectively (3pm, Irish time).

Former Ireland boss McCarthy confirmed he gave his blessing to the call-up following a call from Ireland U21 boss Jim Crawford.

"I fully supported that one when I got the call," he said of the English-born defender who represented Scotland at youth level.

“This was early on, just as I came into the job last season.

"I didn't know that much about Joel except I had watched him in training.

"He played, then I got a call from Jim Crawford and I said, 'All day long, mate, if you can get him and he qualifies, do it now and get him in the squad, you've got a terrific player'.

"That's just what he's done."