Ireland U21 international Jimmy Dunne has confirmed his commitment to playing with the Republic.
Dunne is currently on loan at Sunderland from Burnley. The centre-back also impressed during a loan spell with Hearts this season.
In October, a report in the Irish Independent said that Dunne was considering switching his allegiance to Northern Ireland. The Dundalk-born defender is eligible to play for the North through his grandparents.
"You know, I haven’t played for either or but I am a Dundalk lad and my dream has always been to play for the Republic of Ireland and that’s always something I’ve thought of; I’ve never ever considered it to be any other way," the 21-year-old told LMFM on Sunday.
As you grow older if you’re not playing international football, I can see why players would make the decision to play with someone to get the international experience.
I’m hoping in the next few years or maybe even sooner to play for the Republic of Ireland.
Dunne was called into the Ireland senior squad for October's Nations League game against Denmark but is yet to win a senior cap.
Listen | @SunderlandAFC's new loan signing Jimmy Dunne (@jimmydunne70) joined us earlier, and made it clear where his international future lies. ⬇️ #BlackCats #LMFMSport pic.twitter.com/kgFknWhm9A
— LMFM RADIO (@LMFMRADIO) January 13, 2019
Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
