The duo weren’t picked as part of the provisional 36, and Martin O’Neill’s squad announcements have been distinguished, more than anything, by their lack of surprises until now.
Yet an FAI statement confirmed the news today, explaining that players’ “documentation was finalised last week”.
Christie — eligible to represent Ireland through his Dublin-born grandmother — is a 22-year-old six-foot-plus right-back, who will provide some much-needed cover for Seamus Coleman, after midfielder David Meyler was forced to do a job in the position against Germany in the team’s most recent Euro 2016 qualifier last month.
The young full-back has impressed since joining Derby from hometown club Coventry in the summer for a fee in region of £100,000 (his contract was on the verge of expiring), playing in all but one of the league games for the side who are currently top of the Championship.
Moreover, Derby boss Steve McClaren was full of praise for the youngster after signing him.
“We have been monitoring Cyrus for some time and while there has been a great deal of competition for his signature, we are delighted that he has chosen Derby County for this key stage of his career,” the ex-England coach said.
“They (Ireland) have been in touch and said they have been watching me since the start of the season.
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“It would be an honour to play for the Republic of Ireland but I am just concentrating on what I am doing for Derby. Anything else that comes along is a bonus.
“Somebody spoke to me about the possibility last year while I was at Coventry City, but I never heard back.”
It was widely reported that O’Neill said the wheels were set in motion for a first call-up after the Germany game, and those rumours have now been confirmed, with the Irish set-up ostensibly making a move to secure the player’s services after his impressive start to this season.
Meanwhile, Nottingham-born McGoldrick is another player who has been on Ireland’s radar for quite some time.
The 26-year-old’s links to the Irish team are slightly more complicated than Christie’s, as he explained in an interview earlier this year.
“I played with Leon Best for Notts County and Southampton,” he said. ”He was playing for Ireland and I know people were asking questions about me, but it was complicated.
“I knew there was an Irish link to the McGoldricks, but I had been adopted, so I didn’t think that counted.”
Nevertheless, the player subsequently discovered that he had a blood tie to Ireland.
“I got in contact with my birth mum a few years ago. She mentioned that her dad was Irish. She died a couple of weeks ago, which is sad, but I’d gotten this interest in playing for Ireland.”
The player subsequently suggested he was eager to represent Ireland, saying:
“I’d like to follow it through. I haven’t been in contact with anyone in the FAI. I just want to get the paperwork done, it’s up to me to prove the link and then I’ll make myself available for selection.
“It’s up to Martin O’Neill if he wants to pick me, but I’d love it if he did.”
Furthermore, prior to his season being curtailed owing to a knee injury, the striker scored 16 times in the Championship last year, leading him to be linked with a move to the Premier League with Leicester City, while he has scored five goals in 16 appearances for Ipswich this season, as the Tractor Boys are currently punching above their weight (at least, when judged in accordance with clubs’ finances) in fourth.
Teammate and fellow Ireland striker, Daryl Murphy, last month suggested McGoldrick was on the verge of joining the squad, telling reporters that “it’s just a case of a bit of paperwork” that has to be sorted and adding:
“He’s sort of like Wes [Hoolahan] — he’ll drop in, play that kind of role and make things happen. He obviously scores goals and is just a good all-round player.
“He’s a player we thrive off at club level, because he creates lots of chances for us and for himself, as we’ve seen with the goals he scores.”
So while Christie and McGoldrick aren’t expected to feature against Scotland on Friday, they will both be considered as welcome additions to the team.
With a number of players either injured or doubtful, the presence of two highly regarded Championship players who could well be plying their trade in the Premier League sooner rather than later is a much-needed boost for a squad that isn’t exactly blessed with many alternatives.
Who are Christie and McGoldrick and why has it taken Ireland so long to call them up?
THE NEWS TODAY that David McGoldrick and Cyrus Christie have been selected in the Irish squad to face Scotland and USA has raised more than a few eyebrows.
The duo weren’t picked as part of the provisional 36, and Martin O’Neill’s squad announcements have been distinguished, more than anything, by their lack of surprises until now.
Yet an FAI statement confirmed the news today, explaining that players’ “documentation was finalised last week”.
Christie — eligible to represent Ireland through his Dublin-born grandmother — is a 22-year-old six-foot-plus right-back, who will provide some much-needed cover for Seamus Coleman, after midfielder David Meyler was forced to do a job in the position against Germany in the team’s most recent Euro 2016 qualifier last month.
The young full-back has impressed since joining Derby from hometown club Coventry in the summer for a fee in region of £100,000 (his contract was on the verge of expiring), playing in all but one of the league games for the side who are currently top of the Championship.
Moreover, Derby boss Steve McClaren was full of praise for the youngster after signing him.
Speaking recently about the possibility of playing for Ireland, Christie expressed his enthusiasm in an interview with the Derby Telegraph.
“It would be an honour to play for the Republic of Ireland but I am just concentrating on what I am doing for Derby. Anything else that comes along is a bonus.
“Somebody spoke to me about the possibility last year while I was at Coventry City, but I never heard back.”
It was widely reported that O’Neill said the wheels were set in motion for a first call-up after the Germany game, and those rumours have now been confirmed, with the Irish set-up ostensibly making a move to secure the player’s services after his impressive start to this season.
Meanwhile, Nottingham-born McGoldrick is another player who has been on Ireland’s radar for quite some time.
The 26-year-old’s links to the Irish team are slightly more complicated than Christie’s, as he explained in an interview earlier this year.
“I played with Leon Best for Notts County and Southampton,” he said. ”He was playing for Ireland and I know people were asking questions about me, but it was complicated.
“I knew there was an Irish link to the McGoldricks, but I had been adopted, so I didn’t think that counted.”
Nevertheless, the player subsequently discovered that he had a blood tie to Ireland.
The player subsequently suggested he was eager to represent Ireland, saying:
“I’d like to follow it through. I haven’t been in contact with anyone in the FAI. I just want to get the paperwork done, it’s up to me to prove the link and then I’ll make myself available for selection.
Furthermore, prior to his season being curtailed owing to a knee injury, the striker scored 16 times in the Championship last year, leading him to be linked with a move to the Premier League with Leicester City, while he has scored five goals in 16 appearances for Ipswich this season, as the Tractor Boys are currently punching above their weight (at least, when judged in accordance with clubs’ finances) in fourth.
Teammate and fellow Ireland striker, Daryl Murphy, last month suggested McGoldrick was on the verge of joining the squad, telling reporters that “it’s just a case of a bit of paperwork” that has to be sorted and adding:
“He’s a player we thrive off at club level, because he creates lots of chances for us and for himself, as we’ve seen with the goals he scores.”
So while Christie and McGoldrick aren’t expected to feature against Scotland on Friday, they will both be considered as welcome additions to the team.
With a number of players either injured or doubtful, the presence of two highly regarded Championship players who could well be plying their trade in the Premier League sooner rather than later is a much-needed boost for a squad that isn’t exactly blessed with many alternatives.
Originally published 17.05
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