Troy Deeney has claimed Northern Ireland have been in contact with him to gauge his interest in declaring for the national team.
The Watford striker, who has nine goals in 30 Premier League appearances this season, told Soccer AM that although the possibility of playing for Michael O’Neill’s side has been discussed, his first-choice is to play for his native England.
“I have to be careful about what I say, but I’m just going to do my job and hopefully Mr Hodgson will give me a knock and I’ll be the first one there,” the 27-year-old said of his hopes of impressing England boss Roy Hodgson.
“I’d be the proudest man in the country if I did get the opportunity. I just have to keep doing my job and working away.”
“Yes, we are just confirming the Northern Ireland thing at the moment,” the Watford captain, who is also eligible to play to Jamaica, explained.
However, back in 2013, O’Neill said that while the possibility of Deeney playing for Northern Ireland had been discussed, it failed to materialise because the player was, in fact, ineligible.
“Troy said his grandfather was from Northern Ireland and we were delighted at the thought of bringing him in but at the last minute it turned out to be his great grandfather, so he didn’t qualify for us,” the Northern Ireland coach said.
Whether Deeney has since unearthed another relative that enables him to line out for O’Neill’s side is unclear. However, there’s no doubt he’d improve the Northern Irish squad ahead of their first international tournament in 30 years.
