Hull City's loan star Anthony Gerrard has revealed he is hoping to win a call-up to the Republic of Ireland squad. The Liverpool-born defender, on loan at the KC Stadium from Championship rivals Cardiff, has represented the Republic at Under-18 level having qualified to play for the country because of his grandmother. Gerrard, who is the cousin of Liverpool skipper and England vice-captain Steven Gerrard, decided to pledge his allegiance to the Republic ahead of England when he was at Everton. The 25-year-old has been in outstanding form for Hull this season with the central defender being a virtual ever-present in Nigel Pearson's side. Gerrard has been establishing a reputation for himself as one of the best defenders outside the Premier League with a number of top-flight clubs thought to be eyeing a move for the player this summer. The former Everton youngster is now hoping his form is not going unnoticed by the Ireland coaching team as he feels he is ready to make the step up to the international scene. "Every player wants to play at international level and I am no different," Gerrard told skysports.com. "A lot of people probably don't know that I am eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland having played for them at Under 18 level. "I pledged my allegiance to the Republic and I would love the chance to play for the senior squad. "I have yet to receive a call-up to the senior squad, but I hope my recent performances are being noted by people in the coaching staff. "I will just keep my head down and carry on working well and hope that Mr Trappatoni and his coaching staff will give me the opportunity to play for the Republic in the future." Gerrard, who has been linked with a possible move this summer, admits he is unsure where his future lies. "Obviously I am on loan at Hull from Cardiff and I am still a Cardiff player until I am told otherwise," he added. "I am delighted at how the season has gone so far with Hull and I feel I am playing some of the best football of my career. "We have been doing well recently in climbing up the table and we are pushing for the play-offs. "It has always been my ultimate aim since I left Everton to get back to the top and I feel I am capable of doing that. "I went to Walsall after Everton and I helped them win promotion and then I went to Cardiff and I was a mainstay of the team that reached the play-off final last season. "For whatever reason I was not in Cardiff's plans this season and I was allowed to go out on loan to Hull. "Like any player I want to be playing at the highest level and if I can do that with Cardiff next season or Hull I would be delighted."
If Mcshane, Folan and Kilbane can play for the Republic then theres no reason Gerrard can't, hope he gets his chance.
can honestly say if i found out i had brazilian grandparents, and was called up, i wouldnt be the slightest bit interested..i am english..i think its a joke the whole eligible to represent other countries stuff...
It is utterly stupid! I had one Irish grandparent which I suppose makes me eligible even though my total time spent in Ireland in 30+ years is 1 day. However, this interview makes it seem almost certain we won't have Gerrard next season unless we still get promoted somehow.
Credit must go to Nigel Pearson for nurturing and adding value to Gerrard. I doubt we'll hang on to him but wish him good luck wherever he goes in the PL.
I see where your coming from with being English, but with players it is just another thing to add to their careers and their profiles 'international footballer', i don't think they see it as representing their country but just as another game for them, certainly the English boys do with the way they have played recently!
I'm eligible for England, Scotland and Bangladesh (Which I could probably play for tbh) and I'd honestly rather play for scotland. I understand where your coming from with regards to your preference to play for England but I think it'd be more exiting to play for an average team against some of the worlds best as opposed to never being picked for a good team. If that made any sense.
Errr ,to be honest Matt no it doesn't but each to their own. I once saw an interview with Matt Elliott(he of Leicester and Scotland fame) after he had hung his boots up.For those not aware of him he was basically English with one Scottish grandparent. He was saying how proud he was to have played international football and what an honour it had been to play for Scotland. He was then asked who he'd support if England played Scotland.He just laughed and said he'd rather not say.The way it came across was that he'd support England !! Andy Townsend claims he received his international call up for the Rep of Ireland whilst cheering on England in a World Cup game as well. My favourite one on this subject though comes from Tony Cascarino.After playing over 50 times for the Rep of Ireland he came out and said he wasn't even eligible and that he was a 'fake Irishman'. Saying that John Barnes is hardly English is he ?
I think it depends how you've been brought up as well. I'm English and I live in Scotland. Assuming I had kids with another English person they'd be Scottish themselves but also be brought up to be proud of their English heritage. If it's in that situation I've no problem with people playing for other nations due to their parents/grand parents. When they just discover they've got a grandparent from elsewhere I agree it's daft, although if any of us had been Jamie Wood and had been offered a free holiday in the Caymans every few months just to go and play football for them would we have turned it down?
