Another international window is fast approaching. With Heimir Hallgrimsson stating back in December that he is evaluating all options for bringing possible new recruits into the Ireland setup, it's time we look at who these eligible options could be. Here are five options that could be considered realistic options for selection in this huge year for the national team.
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Dennis Cirkin - Sunderland
The only man on this list that was born in Ireland. Dennis Cirkin was born in Dublin to Latvian parents before moving to London when he was three-years-old. With Irelands current options at left-back being Robbie Brady and Callum O'Dowda, and Ryan Manning who is not be favoured by the management, there has been a clamour from Irish fans for bringing Cirkin into the fold.
Despite representing England at underage level, he hasn't been involved in a squad since 2021 with former Ireland manager Stephen Kenny stating in 2023 that he had spoken to Cirkin but was unclear on where his head was at in terms of international football. Heimir Hallgrimsson and John O'Shea have been spotted a quite a few Sunderland games this season which has only increased speculation that the FAI are hot on the defender's trail. Surely this a player that we could see in green this year?
Heimir Hallgrímsson and John O’Shea in attendance at the Burnley vs Sunderland game tonight!👀
Josh Cullen was the only Irish international on show tonight but in terms of eligible players there was Cirkin, Egan-Riley and Jobe.
Things happening in the background?🤞🏼 pic.twitter.com/US3vqSUj4Q— Rep of Ireland Player Tracker (@reptracker) January 17, 2025
Louie Barry - Aston Villa (on loan at Hull City)
Louie Barry has been seen as one of the brightest young prospects in Europe over the last number of years. Barry played for Ireland in Victory Shield in 2018 before switching to his country of birth, England. He spent a brief spell at Barcelona before moving back to the UK in 2o20, signing for Aston Villa. Barry famously scored on his first team debut against Liverpool but after that had a number of difficult loan spells before settling in at Stockport County last season, breaking a club record of scoring in seven games in a row.
Louie would return to Stockport on loan this season but after scoring 15 goals between August and January, he was recalled by Villa and was rewarded with a new deal at club whilst being loaned out to Hull City until the end of the season. It is also my understanding that Barry has completed the paperwork to switch back to Ireland so he is one that fans should be hopeful of seeing in green this year.
Another week, another Louie Barry goal 🤷♂️
It's what he does.#StockportCounty pic.twitter.com/yMGJeIDWRA— Stockport County (@StockportCounty) September 5, 2024
CJ Egan-Riley - Burnley
Another member of the 2018 Victory Shield squad, CJ Egan-Riley followed Louie Barry in switching to England. Like Barry, Egan-Riley hasn't been involved in an England in a number of years. The Manchester-born defender was seen as a huge coup by Burnley in 2022 when Vincent Kompany brought him to the club but his first couple of years didn't go as planned. He had loan spells at Hibernian and PSV before returning to Turf Moor this season where he has started to fulfill his potential. CJ has been seen as one of the top young centre-halves in the Championship this season and has excelled in Scott Parker's possession-based style. It must be noted that he is still on the radar for England under-21s with Lee Carsley going to watch him play this season but he is most definitely one on Heimir Hallgrimsson's radar as well.
Jack Moorhouse - Manchester United
Jack Moorhouse is a name quite new to Irish fans as he is yet to be capped the Boys in Green. Moorhouse was involved in an Ireland under-19 training camp in 2023. Sadly, Moorhouse has had an awful time over the past number of seasons with injuries and has therefore never got the opportunity to be capped for Ireland. Thankfully, this season has been a real turning point for the midfielder. The Manchester-born playmaker has dazzled crowds for United's under-21s and has majorly impressed first team manager, Ruben Amorim. Moorhouse has regularly trained with the first team since the Amirom's appointment and was rewarded with a place on the bench in the Premier League for United's defeat away to Spurs this month. It's my understanding that Moorhouse's camp are currently in the process of completing all the paperwork so he can come into the U21s this March.
He is a player who is a joy to watch and will get Irish fans off their feet.
Jack Moorhouse highlights
Very talented footballer 💫🔴 pic.twitter.com/q2IxDov7sL— Ruben’s Reds🇾🇪🇵🇹 (@RubensReds7) February 15, 2025
Marcus McGuane - Bristol City
Marcus McGuane joins Louie Barry and CJ Egan-Riley on the list of Ireland underage internationals to have switched to England. The Greenwich-born midfielder was a player with huge hype as an underage prospect, most notably during his time with Arsenal and Barcelona. Things haven't work out as planned for McGuane so far in men's football with the midfielder moving to Oxford United in 2021 to retrieve his career after a loan spell at the club the previous season. Marcus most recently made the move to Bristol City in the summer, making the step up a to playoff-challenging side. He has done well at times but has been in and out of the team. Although he is not a player that could possibly break into the Ireland setup just yet, with his ability and athleticism and if it can all click for him, he could help Ireland fix that void in midfield.
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