MICK MCCARTHY HAS said he and assistant Robbie Keane had a positive meeting with Declan Rice and his father in discussing the player’s international future.
Rice played in international friendlies against the USA and Turkey this year for Ireland. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO
Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO
However there were suggestions that Gareth Southgate and England and had stepped up their interest in the 19-year-old declaring for the Three Lions.
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Speaking on Sky Sports Goals on Sunday this morning, the new Ireland boss said that he was satisfied with his meeting with Rice, but that he needed to know the player’s decision by March, when Euro 2020 qualifiers get underway.
“I had a really good meeting with him. Myself, Robbie and his dad,” McCarthy said.
“It’s just up to him when he wants to decide. That’s how I’ve left it, to be quite honest with you.
Newly appointed Ireland manager Mick McCarthy with his assistant Terry Connor and coach Robbie Keane. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
“It’s not my decision as to whether he plays for the Republic of Ireland. It’s only my job if he wants to stay with us, I can pick him.
“He’s a really talented player — he’s a lovely lad. He’s got a really nice family behind him. He’s got everything about him that you’d want him to play for you.
“I’d love to build a team around him. We start in March. That’s my deadline, I need to know by then. He could be a future captain, he’s that type of player.”
Originally published at 13.02
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Mick McCarthy and Robbie Keane 'had a really good meeting' with Declan Rice over international future
MICK MCCARTHY HAS said he and assistant Robbie Keane had a positive meeting with Declan Rice and his father in discussing the player’s international future.
Reports this week suggested the midfielder was set to commit to Ireland, with Rice having played at underage level for Ireland and in two international friendlies against Turkey and the USA earlier this year.
However there were suggestions that Gareth Southgate and England and had stepped up their interest in the 19-year-old declaring for the Three Lions.
Speaking on Sky Sports Goals on Sunday this morning, the new Ireland boss said that he was satisfied with his meeting with Rice, but that he needed to know the player’s decision by March, when Euro 2020 qualifiers get underway.
“I had a really good meeting with him. Myself, Robbie and his dad,” McCarthy said.
“It’s just up to him when he wants to decide. That’s how I’ve left it, to be quite honest with you.
“It’s not my decision as to whether he plays for the Republic of Ireland. It’s only my job if he wants to stay with us, I can pick him.
“He’s a really talented player — he’s a lovely lad. He’s got a really nice family behind him. He’s got everything about him that you’d want him to play for you.
“I’d love to build a team around him. We start in March. That’s my deadline, I need to know by then. He could be a future captain, he’s that type of player.”
Originally published at 13.02
Subscribe to our new podcast, Heineken Rugby Weekly on The42, here:
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Declan Rice Discussions Goals on Sunday having a chat Ireland Mick McCarthy Premier League Sky sports West Ham United