Jermaine Pennant wants Irish call up

**bwagner** · 08/03/2011, 7:56 AM

Stoke's Jermaine Pennant wants Republic of Ireland call

Pennant played 24 times for the England Under-21 side
Stoke City winger Jermaine Pennant has confirmed that he would like to play for the Republic of Ireland after revealing he has an Irish grandfather.

The ex-England Under-21 man has been in contact with the Football Association of Ireland about a possible call-up.

"I'm 28, I'm not getting any younger and I'd like to play international football, whether it's with England or Ireland," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"I'd love to play for England but it's just never happened."

The former Arsenal and Liverpool man continued: "I don't think it's going to happen, not because of my ability, but maybe misdemeanours in the past that have put that to a halt.

"They're looking at younger, up-and-coming talent which is great for England.

"Who's to say that Ireland can't get to the next World Cup? If I could be a part of that with Ireland, that would be great.

"If I've got a chance to play international football with Ireland, I'm going to take it with both hands.

"They've asked previously and I said 'I want to try and play for England', but I never closed the door on it.

"I actually looked into it and texted my agent. I think he's contacted them to say 'he's eligible to play and he's interested', so we'll see what happens.

"Now they know that I'm interested, maybe they'll start watching me in games.

"You can't just click your fingers and say 'pick me for the team'. You've got to be playing well for your club before you play for any country."

Pennant won 24 caps for the England Under-21 side but failed to make the step up to the senior side.

He has played 25 games for Stoke since his loan move from Real Zaragoza in August, which was made permanent during the January transfer window.

There were reports that Pennant had been fined hundreds of pounds for leaving his Porsche in the car park at a railway station in Spain, but he said that the episode had been "blown out of proportion".

Pennant said: "I left it there for three weeks and my friend went to pick it up for me.

"The Spanish press wrote that I left it there for five months and they also said the club [Real Zaragoza] contacted me to tell me that the Porsche was at the station.

"When I replied saying ''no it's not, my friend has picked it up', they put in the papers that I'd replied 'oh, I didn't know I had a Porsche'.

"So the English press have run it off the Spanish press and now it's blown out of all proportion."

**elroy** · 08/03/2011, 8:00 AM

Bit surprising, cant say I realised he was eligible. Dont need him though, questionable reputation and we already have plenty of strength in depth in his position.

**noddy102** · 08/03/2011, 8:27 AM

No.

Just, no.

**amaccann** · 08/03/2011, 8:38 AM

Nice to see our international team is so highly respected and valued by players.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 08/03/2011, 8:42 AM

If he's eligible, why not?

But seriously, too much flair for Trap.

**Supreme feet** · 08/03/2011, 8:52 AM

The fear here is that Pennant's a 'big' enough name that Trap and his coaching team would probably take him on board, with no regard for how the fans feel. When Green announced that he had Irish roots, he was parachuted straight in, despite the fact that there are plenty of Irish-born players like Garvan, Healy, Michael Doyle and Stephen Quinn playing at a similar level. I would be gutted if he made a squad at the expense of, say, McGeady, Hunt, Fahey or Coleman, and so would a lot of people on here. I've no problem with players like Clark declaring at a young age, but Pennant's just taking the p*ss.

**noddy102** · 08/03/2011, 8:53 AM

Why not?

Because he's 28 and has only decided to show interest now.

Why should he be given a call-up over some younger player who has gone through our youth system or somebody else who is keener to play for Ireland and has been keen from a young age.

He's only interested because he wants to tick off 'international football' on his CV and potentially play at a World Cup. F*** off.

**boovidge** · 08/03/2011, 8:54 AM

would he even get in the squad anyway? we don't really need wingers.

**boovidge** · 08/03/2011, 8:56 AM

Originally Posted by noddy102

Why not?

Because he's 28 and has only decided to show interest now.

Why should he be given a call-up over some younger player who has gone through our youth system or somebody else who is keener to play for Ireland and has been keen from a young age.

He's only interested because he wants to tick off 'international football' on his CV and potentially play at a World Cup. F*** off.

Does he drink Guinness though?

**the bear** · 08/03/2011, 9:01 AM

the poor fella doesn't seem to realise that he's a donkey. not good enough, so the rest is irrelevant

**Jicked** · 08/03/2011, 9:05 AM

Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

If he's eligible, why not?

But seriously, too much flair for Trap.

What? I must have been missing all this flair down the years. He'd have no chance of getting in the team ahead of our superior right wingers so his nationality is a moot point in my book.

**Junior** · 08/03/2011, 9:27 AM

Thanks, but no thanks.

**cornflakes** · 08/03/2011, 9:42 AM

Call him up for that US trip, he'l probably pull out and we can forget about him then

**paul_oshea** · 08/03/2011, 9:44 AM

I wonder did he tell them his name was ashley Cole when applying to the fai?

**pineapple stu** · 08/03/2011, 9:47 AM

Originally Posted by noddy102

Because he's 28 and has only decided to show interest now.

Same as John Aldridge so.

**tetsujin1979** · 08/03/2011, 10:00 AM

Thanks, but no thanks. One quick google search came back with this article on skysports.com, from less that 2 weeks ago: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...784146,00.html

"I don't give Tony Pulis problems so why would I give Fabio Capello a problem? I'm not a person who goes into a dressing room and causes aggro.
"Sometimes, I'm a bit lively and bubbly, but that isn't a bad thing. I'm not disrespectful to people, I'm not rude to managers. I listen to what they say. I'd still like a chance for England."

**Scooby Doo** · 08/03/2011, 10:07 AM

Toddle on Jermaine....

Here's the radio interview in full.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...ty/9417873.stm

Comes across as extremely blasé about his chances to play for 'Aye-land'.
I'd be disgusted if this pretender came in and took the place of, say, Stephen Hunt or McGeady.

**noddy102** · 08/03/2011, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Same as John Aldridge so.

Except Aldridge never was apart of any international youth setup, among the other blindingly obvious reasons why they aren't comparable examples at all, bar perhaps their age similarities.

**Murfinator** · 08/03/2011, 10:37 AM

Thats great if there's an injury crisis but otherwise Duff, McGeady and Coleman all play in his position and all are better players than him and playing for better clubs so thanks but no thanks.