REPUBLIC OF IRELAND manager Mick McCarthy has addressed the situation surrounding Bayern Munich youngster Ryan Johansson.
The 18-year-old has represented Ireland’s U19s, who he is eligible to play for through his mother’s family, while he has also lined out for his country of birth, Luxembourg, at U21 level.
His father is from Sweden, meaning the Swedish FA are interested in the player too.
Back in January, the teenager declared his commitment to Ireland. However, his international future was recently thrown into doubt as uncertainties over his eligibility emerged.
Having lined out for Bayern Munich’s first team in pre-season, Johansson and the FAI submitted official paperwork for an international transfer to Fifa earlier this week, and they remain hopeful.
McCarthy is unsure about when his future will become clearer though.
They are checking his eligibility,” said McCarthy. “Unless he is eligible to play I don’t see any point [in talking], unless I find out he is.
“Until he is eligible, and I don’t know, then there is not really a story. If there is then I will go and watch him.
“If he is not eligible to play there is hardly any point in me making an issue of that. I can’t play him, I might as well go and watch Patrick Bamford. He doesn’t qualify either.”
McCarthy was at Salthill Devon FC in Galway today after the provisional 40-man Irish squad was announced ahead of their upcoming international fixtures.
Talented Spurs striker Troy Parrott was handed his first call-up alongside Doncaster’s Kieran Sadlier and Stoke City youngster Nathan Collins.
The League of Ireland’s sole representative is Shamrock Rovers midfielder Jack Byrne for the home clashes with Switzerland and Bulgaria on 5 and 10 September respectively.
New Crystal Palace midfielder James McCarthy has also been named in the initial squad, that will be cut to 23, having not featured for Republic of Ireland since they faced Moldova in 2016.
But Parrott’s inclusion is the most exciting following a pre-season where he featured in Tottenham’s starting 11, and on the back of a couple of prolific years at underage level for club and country.
“I was interested to see bits of him in the pre-season games,” said McCarthy.
“I was even more interested that he wasn’t even involved with Tottenham on the first day of the season.
“If he is involved he might cause me a problem. If not he will go with Stephen Kenny to the U21s.
I have been happy with the strikers that have been playing. If he gets in in the next couple of games and plays it is going to cause me a problem and Stephen a problem.
“If he is playing with the first team then I certainly have to consider to have him in the final squad, and then to play him. But he is not there as of yet.
“If Troy gets in and he scores a couple of goals and he is brilliant for Spurs I will have a different thought process about that.”
Pity to see him go. He was one of the best defenders to play the game
Ever !
That hook in the replay was pivotal.
And from a Tipp point of view – should a player of Callanan’s calibre and experience have allowed himself to be hooked? Remember how a young and inexperienced Shane O’Donnell batted the ball to the net in a similar situation in last years All Ireland.
Anyway JJ was quite simply a class defender – no arguments there!!
The sport has lost a lot of legends this summer. FairPlay JJ, an exceptional career from an exceptional player.
He’ll be the biggest loss of all the retirees. With the greatest of respect he was still first choice (and playing well) this summer while the other four were squad members and getting a few minutes off the bench here and there. Class player in fairness, he’ll leave a huge void on that defence. Phenomenal in the air and a fantastic reader of the game. Best wishes to him.
Jesus I was certain he would stay on and try get 10
One of the finest hurlers to ever grace the field
And toughest !
With all the 9 time winners retiring, Shefflin’s record may stand the test of time!
Some player. The most consistent hurler I’ve ever seen
Ah no. Please one more year. If he had been around in 1912 he would have blocked the hole in the titanic
One of the most complete defenders in the game, awesome talent, first on every team sheet. Thanks JJ for the fantastic memories. Gutted to see you go but every player must walk out to the sunset. Your Hook this year in the All Ireland is a fantastic final memory of a glittering career. You owe hurling nothing everything left on the pitch. Slan
Ah shite!
What a player, pity he didn’t go for his 10th all Ireland. Been a pleasure to watch over the years for both club and county.
Just a legend. Simple as that.
Have to say one of de greatest backs ever to Grace a hurling pitch, and that comes from a wexford man happy retirement jj
Best defender I ever saw and that’s from a Corkonian. Wing back was his best position. 2004 final, he was on one wing and Sean Og on the other. Both had blinders. Glad I was there to see it. No other player I ever saw can go from wing back to full back and be as good. I stayed quite on the other retirements but had to comment on this guy.
An awesome player Brian Cody called him the best defender he’s even seen !!! I think that says it all !!
Irreplaceable. Simple as that. As are tommy Walsh and Henry. Kilkenny will be strong next year but no one can fill these boots. And I’m a Tipp man.
Pity to see JJ retiring sad day!just hope jackie doesn’t follow suit now! Two rocks in the full back line for years!
Noel Hickey was replaced by JJ, Henery Shefflin filled the gap left by DJ… Don’t get too excited that KK will be a spent force… JJ was the best defender I ever seen play, plus a true gent
Great hurler great team, hopefully with alot of the old gaurd retiring they will be considerably weakened from a hopeful cork langer!!!
I say good. Great player but now that so many Kilkenny players are retiring maybe they will stop dominating every year and it will get more interesting.
Cian – sorry to tell you but, there are many more coming up this year – you may be (un)pleasantly surprised …
Haha. I know Dara. Unfortunately Kilkenny do have many more amazing players in their squad and coming through but I’d just love to see Limerick win one :)
Great hurler. Huge loss. Hard act to follow at fullback for Kilkenny.
Defending is an art form in itself. I doubt there has ever been a player who showcased it better. He was always on his mans shoulder, he had an intrinsic sense of where to hook or block, he knew how to shepard his man away from goal, he fouled inconspicuously, he fielded ball he had no right to, he was equally tough, brave and competitive. Not to mention his ability with the ball in hand. His hook on Callinan in the replay was a fitting final reminder to us all of his greatness.
There retiring before Cody gives them the cold shoulder!!!! As he would eventually !!
I suppose this means we can write them off now!
Haha, been written off before, but it’s a massive gap in defence to plug now.
Who was better, JJ or Tommy Walsh?
JJ.
JJ, only because he always keeps a cool head. Kilkenny wouldn’t have been so dominant without him in defence.