Kasey McAteer always felt his calling was with the Republic of Ireland

IRELAND'S CALL: Kasey McAteer during a Republic of Ireland training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Reared in England, courted by Northern Ireland, Kasey McAteer still felt his calling was with the Republic.

He was already on the FAI’s radar before being exposed to the Premier League this season with his boyhood club Leicester City. Ironically, his debut is likely to be against his homeland in Saturday’s opening Uefa Nations League fixture at Lansdowne Road (5pm).

“My late grandma was from County Offaly,” explained the attacker when presented to the media for the first time on Tuesday.

“She was born and grew up there before moving to Birmingham when she was in her 20s. From there, she moved to Northampton and settled down with my grandfather.

“My late uncle Joe was a massive follower of Ireland. Everywhere he went he wore a little Irish badge and always reminded me that my blood is with Ireland.

“That was always drilled into me from young and hopefully he can be proud looking down on me.

“There are seven of my family coming over. They are all looking forward to it. I had a phone call with them last night, with my mum and dad, and they are all excited to be coming over and I am sure they will have a great time.”

'Hopefully he can be proud and looking down on me.'

'I felt like I was wanted here.'

New Ireland recuit Kasey McAteer on his Offaly links, Uncle Joe and his pride ahead of the meeting with England this weekend.

📸 @byBrendanOBrien pic.twitter.com/pqRPqmhj4V

— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) September 3, 2024

His granddad’s Northern Ireland links produced another option for his international allegiance.

“My mum’s father was born in Belfast and came down at a similar time when he was younger (to the English Midlands) and settled down in Northampton with my grandma and that is where the link was.

“There were a few conversations with Northern Ireland. It was definitely a possibility because when I first heard about it, it was a big moment: 'wow a country is coming for me and wanting me to play for them'.

“But when I first started speaking to the Republic there was also a lot of interest shown, that was an ongoing thing with phone calls and emails etc. That's when I wanted to take it further, and get my Irish passport and Irish citizenship done and dusted with, so I am glad I got it done.

“I felt like this was the place for me to be. I felt really wanted here. I had a lot of connections with Ireland through John O’Shea and people in the past who had called me. Definitely the place to be was here.”

Whatever affinity he had to his birthplace was quashed by the proliferation of rivals when it came to representing England.

Several of the team that ex-Ireland midfielder Lee Carsley brings to Dublin 4 are of the 22-year-old’s generation.

“I didn’t ever hook up with England on a schoolboy basis,” he said.

“There was a lot of talent coming through the ranks of my age-group but when this came to me it was sort of a no-brainer. To play for a country, one that seems so driven and determined, was a no-brainer.”

McAteer was a ballboy for Leicester when they shocked the world order by winning the Premier League but he had endure the hard yards on loan at Wimbledon and Forest Green before getting to play alongside his idol Jamie Vardy.

His appearances off the bench of all three of the Foxes’ league matches against Tottenham, Fulham and Aston Villa, coupled with an impressive start in the Carabao Cup victory over Tranmere Rovers last week, have him well-oiled for the ultimate test.

“A few injuries held me back last year but I’ve managed to come through them and I feel stronger day by day and hopefully I can just take that forward going into the Premier League,” he noted.

“I’d like to say my biggest strength is my running power. I like to run – people can tell from my long legs that it’s probably my biggest asset.

“I can play a number of positions. Growing up at Leicester you learn different positions you can play, I’ve played in the past at wing-back, on the wing, centre midfield, the wing, in the 10, I can play in a variety.”

How about being unleashed against the Euro runners-up for his bow? “I'd like to think I’m ready but I'd definitely feel it,” he said.

“All I've done since I could walk, play football. I am here to do a job, so I have to remember that, keep it to the back of my mind and deliver the best I can for this country - if given the chance.”