Newcastle star amazed not to have been called on by England
Newcastle captain Kevin Nolan has considered an attempt to represent Ireland at international level after giving up on his chances of playing for England.
The former Bolton star scored against his old club in Saturday's 1-1 draw to join the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard as English midfielders who have netted 50 goals in the Premier League.
Despite that achievement, Nolan has incredibly never played for England, mainly due to the form of Gerrard and Lampard, and he has thought about switching allegiances to Ireland.
But he does not qualify through his grandparents and at the age of 27 he thinks that his international career is over.
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Nolan said in The Sun: "It's unbelievable, I didn't realise I was getting close to my 50th goal. It makes me very proud.
"It's amazing I haven't got an England cap, isn't it?
"But Lampard and Gerrard are a cut above. They've been world class year-in, year-out in the Premier League. England has gone for me."
He added: "The possibility of playing for Ireland has been brought up a number of times but unfortunately my grandad and my nans are only a quarter Irish, or half Irish, and they need to be fully Irish!
"I did try and cheat like Tony Cascarino did by going over and having 14 pints of Guinness. Didn't work though."
Newcastle captain Kevin Nolan has considered an attempt to represent Ireland at international level after giving up on his chances of playing for England.
The former Bolton star scored against his old club in Saturday's 1-1 draw to join the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard as English midfielders who have netted 50 goals in the Premier League.
Despite that achievement, Nolan has incredibly never played for England, mainly due to the form of Gerrard and Lampard, and he has thought about switching allegiances to Ireland.
But he does not qualify through his grandparents and at the age of 27 he thinks that his international career is over.
Cut above
Nolan said in The Sun: "It's unbelievable, I didn't realise I was getting close to my 50th goal. It makes me very proud.
"It's amazing I haven't got an England cap, isn't it?
"But Lampard and Gerrard are a cut above. They've been world class year-in, year-out in the Premier League. England has gone for me."
He added: "The possibility of playing for Ireland has been brought up a number of times but unfortunately my grandad and my nans are only a quarter Irish, or half Irish, and they need to be fully Irish!
"I did try and cheat like Tony Cascarino did by going over and having 14 pints of Guinness. Didn't work though."
