
‘He's a player of interest' – Hallgrimsson hints at shock Ireland return for James McClean in major retirement U-turn
McClean, 36,
2
Heimir Hallgrimsson suggests James McClean could be brought back for Ireland
Credit: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
2
He retired from international football in 2023
Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
But he always said he
And now back in the
next
term after back-to-back promotions, Hallgrimsson admits McClean (above) is someone to consider.
Hallgrimsson said: 'He is a player of interest, really. Again, he is a character that could help us at some point.
'I think we were more looking at younger players in this camp but we'll obviously look at him like everyone else.
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'If he is better than the ones we have already, I would have no problem with selecting him.
'I don't know him personally. I haven't spoken to him but caught up on him and saw him play.
'Like I said, what is he, 36? He's not getting any younger.
'But if he's better than the ones we have, I would have no problems with selecting him.
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'It would have been good to have camps to call him in and
work
with him for a week.
'And I've said before, age is not an issue for me if a player is 16 and better than the ones before or 35.
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'It really doesn't matter if they are better than the ones we have.'
Josh
Honohan, 24, are Hallgrimsson's two left-back options for the upcoming friendlies against
And he confirmed Dutch-based Anselmo Garcia-MacNulty, 22, is also a left-back option though he was not called up on this occasion.
The Seville-born former
Ireland
Under-21 international was an ever-present for PEC Zwolle this season and has been in the Irish system since aged 16.
But he has played all season at centre-half where Hallgrimsson has plenty of options at present.
The boss said: 'He's a promising player. He's playing every minute in a proper league.
'A different style than he's used to, so he's adapting to the style they are playing.
'He is a left-footed centre-back and we don't have many of those.
'He probably has more of a chance playing as a left-back but he's not doing that at this stage.
'He can play both, so if you look to the
future
, definitely a guy that we will have our eye on.'
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4 minutes ago
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24 minutes ago
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