www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/footba...n-sunderland-striker-connor-wickham-1-6241048 FORMER Sunderland boss Martin OâNeill is hoping to tempt Black Cats striker Connor Wickham into pledging his international allegiance to the Republic of Ireland. Wickham, on loan at Championship Sheffield Wednesday until January, has won 17 caps for the England Under-21s after coming through the national teamâs various age groups. But the £8m frontman is yet to to make a senior appearance for England, and has been left out of Under-21 boss Gareth Southgateâs last two squads. Wickham qualifies for the Republic through his Northern Irish father, and the 20-year-old is a familiar face for OâNeill after the new Ireland managerâs 15 month stint in charge at the Stadium of Light. OâNeill, who will take charge of the Irish for the first time against Latvia on Friday, said: âI worked with Connor at Sunderland. âSteve Bruce bought him, but I thought the price tag concerned him, and for a little while I thought being a professional footballer was enough for Connor, and at that stage that he liked the lifestyle which was all very new to him. âBut you have to knuckle down, and actually have to go and do something. âIn my latter days at Sunderland it looked as if he was going to come round, and wanted to become a professional player. âHe is out on loan at this minute at Sheffield Wednesday, and Connor would be the first to say that to go and play in the Premier League week in, week out is still a big task. âBut those little spells on loan, particularly this one where he is doing all right, and scored a few goals, will help him. âI donât think I am in a position at this minute to turn down anything, and if someone tells me someone is available, particularly someone I have worked with and might have a chance, I would give it some consideration.â However, www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ipswich-town/c...playing_for_the_republic_of_ireland_1_2993583 Former Ipswich Town striker Connor Wickham has no interest in switching his international allegiances to the Republic of Ireland, the EADT and Ipswich Star understands New Ireland boss Martin OâNeill yesterday said that he would consider asking Wickham to play for him on the international stage. OâNeill was Wickhamâs manager at Sunderland, while his assistant Roy Keane was his manager at Ipswich. Wickham is eligible to play for the Emerald Isle due to the fact that his well-travelled army officer father, Stefan, was born in Ulster, Northern Ireland. The 20-year-old has scored six goals in 17 appearances for the England Under-21s, was born in Hereford, grew up in Reading and then joined Ipswich Townâs academy when his father was based at Colchester. And a source close to the striker says his ambition very much remains becoming a full Three Lions international. That goal seems a long way off at present following his failure to really establish himself at Sunderland. He has made just nine league starts for the Wearside club since an £8.1m switch from Ipswich in 2011 and is currently on loan at Championship club Sheffield Wednesday. âI worked with Connor at Sunderland,â said OâNeill. âSteve Bruce bought him but I thought the price tag concerned him and for a little while I thought being a professional footballer was enough for Connor and at that stage that he liked the lifestyle which was all very new to him. âBut you have to knuckle down and actually have to go and do something. In my latter days at Sunderland it looked as if he was going to come round and wanted to become a professional player. âHe is out on loan at this minute at Sheffield Wednesday and Connor would be the first to say that to go and play in the Premier League week in, week out is still a big task. âBut those little spells on loan, particularly this one where he is doing all right and scored a few goals, will help him. âI donât think I am in a position at this minute to turn down anything and if someone tells me someone is available, particularly someone I have worked with and might have a chance, I would give it some consideration.â He might as well fasion an International career. He'll never pull on an England shirt imo.
I thought MON had come out there. If that lad gets a full England place, I will show my arse in Burtons window.
Sadly (because I believed he could be great when we bought him!) I agree. Realistically, if I were him, I'd jump at the chance to play international football. The ROI aren't exactly bursting with top, top strikers so he could really make a place his own over the next 10 yrs or so.
farily typical of oneil ,he never gave him a game at safc, unless hes going to give him five mins at the end, why bother
