Glenn Whelan: 'Vale will bring something different that Ireland don't have'

The 91-time capped former midfielder believes the ex-Chelsea starlet can be Ireland’s secret weapon against Czechia in Prague tomorrow and won’t be fazed by the magnitude of the occasion

SPOTLIGHT: Harvey Vale speaks at his first Ireland press conference. Pic: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

Harvey Vale might have been the most googled name in Ireland last week, after the youngster was catapulted from nowhere into the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup playoff squad.

But while Ireland fans scrambled for scraps of information on the new recruit, Glenn Whelan can offer a considered view and has assured those supporters that it’s a venture worth pursuing.

Not just that, the 91-time capped former midfielder believes the ex-Chelsea starlet can be Ireland’s secret weapon against Czechia in Prague tomorrow as he won’t be fazed by the magnitude of the occasion.

Whelan was instrumental in getting the English-born attacking midfielder to declare for Ireland having worked with Vale at Bristol Rovers, before the 22-year-old’s permanent move to QPR a year ago.

Whelan was player-coach when Vale joined Rovers on loan from Chelsea in 2023 and immediately liked what he saw.. He is convinced that Vale’s attacking threat makes him Ireland’s ace up the sleeve in this must-win showdown with the Czechs.

“Harvey will bring something different that the squad doesn't have,” said Whelan. “Everyone is after a lefty who can play off both sides - he’s an attacking threat. If he gets the opportunity, I can’t see anything like this fazing him.

“It’s going to be hard for him to start straight away, so it’s probably a case of coming on and getting a feel for it. But he gets fans off their seats as he’s such an attacking threat. He can come into you, go outside or take you down the line.

“He's got an eye for goal and assists and, whatever about these two games, I think it’s a long-term vision from the management team. We need the best players available for us if we’re to keep making the right steps forward, and Harvey will definitely be one of them given the time.” 

Vale’s grandfather was born in Killarney and lived in Sneem before moving to London. As soon as Whelan heard about those Kerry links, he phoned his good friend and Ireland assistant John O’Shea to suggest he take a closer look.

Vale cracks a smile during squad training in Abbotstown. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Whelan continued: “Harvey came to us from Chelsea, and you're not a bad player if you've gone through the Chelsea academy. He just had something different. I had a conversation with Harvey to see if he would be interested in declaring and I just relayed that to John.

“It’s going back a few years and would have been for the Under-21 squad at the time, so it’s taken a bit longer but he needed to find his feet before declaring. But it was obviously a further conversation that Heimir Hallgrimssom has been open to over the last 12 to 18 months.” 

Whelan, 42, added: “Harvey can play off the right and left and has a wand of a left foot. He played left-back for us on occasions, so there’s a few positions he can play.

I think Harvey just needed to go and find his feet and decide what he wanted to do. Even though QPR haven't been great this year, I think he's been a standout.” 

Four months have passed since Ireland secured this playoff semi-final, following their heroics against Hungary and Portugal. But despite the gap, Whelan insists momentum is still with Hallgrimsson’s side.

“The two games in November gave the country a massive lift. Nobody gave us a chance, myself included,” he said, adamant the pressure is all on Czechia. “We’re on the crest of a wave now and because of that belief, I’d much rather be in our camp than the Czech camp.”

Hallgrimsson has signed a contract extension to Euro 2028 and Whelan - who was caretaker boss of Wigan until February - feels the Icelander has earned it.

He said: “The conversation may have been a little different without the two good results in November but the people behind the scenes have seen that the manager has brought something and there is an improvement in the team to take us forward.

“It took the manager a bit of time to find out about the players and find his formation, but he’s done that and brought real belief to the nation. You have to give him credit as where we finished in the group didn't look likely at one stage but he turned it around. He has a vision and wants to get Ireland back involved in big tournaments.” 

Troy Parrott is key to those hopes, with the striker looking to pick up where he left off after November’s five-goal haul against Portugal and Hungary. The 24-year-old has scored an eye-watering 29 goals for club and country this season.

“Troy is in some form,” added Whelan. “He’s been in the shadow of some big Irish players and especially playing that striker role, where you’re billed as ‘the next Robbie Keane’.

"He’s had to deal with that and it’s taken a bit of time but now he’s making a real name for himself across European football, with big clubs interested. The Czechs will be more worried about Troy that he will be on them, that’s for sure.”