Soon after coming into his role at Republic of Ireland manager, Heimir Hallgrimmson made it clear that he intended to make full use of the 'granny rule' in order to strengthen his squad.
It is an area Ireland have had success with in the past, with some of our finest ever footballers having qualified via this method. Among the current squad, the likes of Josh Cullen, Sammie Szmodics, Mikey Johnston, and Will Smallbone all were brought into the Ireland setup via familial links.
Hallgrimsson brought a number of English-born players into the Jamaica squad during his time in charge of the Caribbean nation and is intent on doing so once again with Ireland. The FAI are even creating a new role that will specialise in identifying such players.
However, it seems as though one name that has been widely suggested is set to shut the door on a potential Ireland switch.
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Premier League Striker Set To Close The Door On Ireland Switch
Liam Delap has long been touted as a potential 'granny rule' recruit for Ireland, with his father Liam having earned 11 caps in green during his playing career.
His status as one of the most highly rated players in the Manchester City academy meant it was uncertain if he would pursue a career with Ireland, although Stephen Kenny hinted at one stage that it could be possible. There was chat about a potential international switch as recently as this month, with Shay Given saying Ireland should go all out to get him into the squad.
However, it looks as though the possibility of him playing for Ireland will end for the foreseeable future.
Liam Delap has been included in the England U21 squad for their qualifiers next month. Due to the new FIFA eligibility rules, an appearance in those games would bring to an end his chances of playing for Ireland over the next few years.
Liam Delap will no longer be able to represent Ireland imminently.
Interestingly, Dennis Cirkin wasn’t called up so he remains an option for Ireland… https://t.co/KiEATaa048— Irish Football Blog (@BlogIrish) August 30, 2024
Previously, U21 international appearances were not take into account when a player attempted to switch their international eligibility. That has all changed now.
The current rules state that appearances made at that level by a player who is aged 21-years older or more at the time would count as a competitive international appearance, meaning they could not immediately switch to another international team after those games.
There is a three-year cooling off period after which an international switch would then be possible.
Essentially, this means that if Liam Delap features in the England U21 games next month, he could not play for Ireland for at least three more years, even if he is not capped by England at senior level.
Of course, the player himself has seemingly given no indication that he wants to play for Ireland, meaning this scenario is unlikely to be something he has taken into consideration.
In saying that, from an Ireland point of view, it does remove one player from their pool of potential internationals over the next number of years.
As the tweet above mentions, Dennis Cirkin has not been included in the England U21 squad. Born in Ireland to Latvian parents before moving to the UK at a young age, we summed up recently why he is someone to watch when it comes to potential Ireland recruits under the new regime.
While Cirkin remains in play, it seems the Liam Delap to Ireland door has closed for now.
SEE ALSO: Hallgrimsson Presser Raises Questions About John O'Shea Role In Ireland Setup
