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The Irish Sun
01-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘He's a player of interest' – Hallgrimsson hints at shock Ireland return for James McClean in major retirement U-turn
IRELAND boss Heimir Hallgrimsson has confirmed James McClean is on his World Cup radar. 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. Read More on Ireland MNT '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. Most read in Football '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. 'He's got the fastest hands' - Wrexham star James McClean tipped to beat up Jake Paul in boxing fight '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.'
Irish Daily Mirror
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Hallgrimsson target recognised in latest ranking as ever-present run continues
Ireland Under-21 defender Anselmo Garcia MacNulty has followed up his chat with Heimir Hallgrímsson by making the latest ESPN Eredivisie Team of the Week. The Seville-born youngster featured in PEC Zwolle's 3-1 win away to NAC Breda on Sunday, where his performance earned him a place at centre-back in the weekly-11. It's not MacNulty's first time featuring in the Team of the Week, but this one comes fresh from a meeting with senior boss Hallgrímsson, who watched the 22-year-old play against Feyenoord late last month. PEC lost that one 4-0, but MacNulty's performance in front of the Boys in Green boss had plenty of positives. He is back in his more familiar centre-back role this season after spending last year as a left-back - an area that has been problematic for Ireland for some time now. Hallgrímsson will later this month name a squad for the summer friendlies against Luxembourg and Senegal. The Ireland manager has already stated that Championship players will be disadvantaged by their regular season ending last weekend. The Dutch top-flight will continue into the middle of this month, with Zwolle facing Go Ahead Eagles, Willem II and FC Groningen in their remaining games. So it represents an opportunity for MacNulty, whose mum Maeve hails from Kilmaley in Co Clare, to secure a first senior call-up. He will also hope to finish the season with maximum minutes on the pitch. The former Real Betis and VfL Wolfsburg prospect is currently one of only two ever-present outfield players in the Eredivisie this season, having played every moment of PEC Zwolle's 31 league games to date. Go Ahead Eagles defender Mats Deijl is the other player to have not yet missed any action.
