'It’s quite positive on Victor': Colin O'Brien confident of wonderkid's World Cup availability

11 European countries, including Ireland, will compete at the 48-team U17 World Cup. Ireland have achieved what neither Spain nor the Netherlands have managed. 
'It’s quite positive on Victor': Colin O'Brien confident of wonderkid's World Cup availability

16-year-old Victor Ozhianvuna has been recovering from a knock but is expected to be fit for Ireland's U17 World Cup finals campaign. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Ireland manager Colin O’Brien is confident that Arsenal’s €2m recruit Victor Ozhianvuna will be fit for the U17 World Cup kicking off in Qatar on November 5.

Since his pre-contract deal with the Gunners was announced last month, the versatile 16-year-old has been working his way back from a knock but O’Brien expects him to be fit for the trip to the middle-east on Friday week.

He will move to London full-time in January 2027 when he turns 18 – giving him all of next season to line out for the Irish champions-elect.

Ireland will feature for the first time ever on the world stage at this level, kicking off on Wednesday, November 5 against Panama (12.30pm Irish time) before meeting Asian opponents Uzbekistan on Saturday, November 8 (3.45pm).

They complete their group of an expanded 48-team tournament on Tuesday, November 11 against Paraguay (1.30pm).

Shamrock Rovers duo Ozhianvuna and Michael Noonan will miss the FAI Cup final on November 9, as will Cork City’s Brody Lee, due to the clash.

Although the entirety of the World Cup isn’t during an international window, both clubs were content to allow their talent to experience this momentous occasion in their young careers.

“Victor hasn’t been playing but came through all his training programmes,” said Corkman O’Brien, who will be assisted by Ian Hill and John Cotter.

“This last week is always the one where there’s a lot of dealing with the medical staff for certain players. There’s a full week of fixtures ahead, which is a challenge.

“It’s quite positive on Victor. We have cover across the squad if there’s injuries. This tournament can be relentless because there’s three group games over seven days.” 

That the international window doesn’t begin until November 10 – two games into the tournament for Ireland – hasn’t caused a problem with getting players released for duty.

O’Brien said: “Technically we’ll be outside of the international window because it overlaps into it but there’s been no issue with clubs.

“There’s only three World Cups in the male game; U17, U20 and senior. This is possibly a once in a lifetime opportunity. All clubs have been very supportive because the experience will help both the player and the club.” 

Rory Finneran will captain Ireland. He became the youngest-ever Blackburn Rovers debutant at the age of 15 years and 10 months, influencing Newcastle United’s decision to pounce on a deal that required a tribunal to decide transfer fee.

Cases of Jack Grealish and Declan Rice has conditioned Irish fans into being wary of further defections but O’Brien says the midfielder is content with his international allegiance.

“It hasn’t come up and he’s been with us from day one at U15 level,” he said of any England interest. “Rory is a key asset and part of what we do.” 

Ireland is one of only 11 nations from Europe represented at the extravaganza and O’Brien was keen to place their achievement in perspective.

Former Cork City winger Jaden Umeh was instrumental. Now on the books of Portuguese giants Benfica, he scored braces in the final qualifiers against Poland and Iceland.

“By Spain not qualifying for this, it just tells you how difficult it was,” he noted.

“The Netherlands are another big country at youth level that aren’t involved. It’s a huge mountain for our lads to have climbed.” 

Ireland Men’s Under-17 FIFA World Cup squad:

Goalkeepers: George Moloney (Southampton), Alex Noonan (Shamrock Rovers), Corey Sheridan (Finn Harps).

Defenders: Ryan Butler (Wexford), Josh Cullen (Finn Harps), Vinnie Leonard (Dundalk), Ade Solanke (FC Lorient), Oisin McDonagh (Venezia), Finn Sherlock (Hoffenheim), Sean Spaight (Dundalk).

Midfielders: Rory Finneran (Newcastle United), Ramon Martos (UD Almeria), Grady McDonnell (Club Brugge), Kian McMahon-Brown (Burnley), Goodness Ogbonna (UCD), Victor Ozhianvuna (Shamrock Rovers).

Forwards: Max Kovalevskis (Shamrock Rovers), Brody Lee (Cork City), Gavin McAteer (Finn Harps), Michael Noonan (Shamrock Rovers), Jaden Umeh (SL Benfica).

Ireland's Fifa U17 World Cup schedule:

Wednesday, November 5 | Panama vs Ireland, Aspire Zone, Doha, Qatar, kick-off 12.30pm* 

Saturday, November 8 | Ireland vs Uzbekistan, Aspire Zone, Doha, Qatar, kick-off 3.45pm* 

Tuesday, November 11 | Ireland vs Paraguay, Aspire Zone, Doha, Qatar, kick-off 1.30pm* 

Friday, November 14: Round of 32

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