In an honest interview, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall laid out his international ambitions and how he hopes success with Everton will support them
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall celebrates with fans after playing a key role in Everton's 3-2 win at Wolves in August. Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall celebrates with fans after playing a key role in Everton's 3-2 win at Wolves in August. Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images
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Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has his sights on an England call-up and believes Everton is the perfect platform for him to achieve his dream. The 27-year-old is yet to represent the national side and has been the subject of requests from the Irish FA, which has sought to convince him to commit to the Republic of Ireland.
While he stressed he is grateful for the interest - and full of respect for those seeking his commitment - he has now revealed that representing England remains his goal. That desire was a driving factor in his decision to move to Everton this summer, he said.
Dewsbury-Hall has made an impressive start to life on Merseyside, quickly becoming a key component of David Moyes’ new-look Blues.
His relationship with Jack Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye continues to grow and was crucial to his standout moment in Royal Blue so far - his stunning goal in the 3-2 win at Wolves in the Premier League.
That form has led to renewed calls for the Irish FA to tempt him into making himself available for Heimir Hallgrimsson’s team.
Those efforts are not new. Dewsbury-Hall grew up in Leicestershire but is eligible to play international football alongside Everton team mates Seamus Coleman and Jake O’Brien through his grandparents and the Irish FA has courted him for years.
Now, for the first time, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is willing to go on the record with his stance - a decision he said he made because he wanted to show his respect for those trying to understand his thoughts on the situation.
He said: “It's a hard one to answer. I respect Ireland and I respect the Irish people but I'm English. To play for England, for me, would be the biggest achievement of my career.
“I think it would be wrong of me to keep letting things drag on when I've got a clear goal in my head… That's nothing against Ireland or anything, they're unbelievable people. But it would be the proudest moment of my life if I played for England.”
Dewsbury-Hall acknowledged it would be a challenge to break into Thomas Tuchel’s plans but believes his dream is achievable and, crucially, in his own hands.
He explained: “I have always had to work, work, work, work. That's instilled in me, I know I'm not going to get anything given to me. I have to earn it. I almost like the fact that it's up to me. If I play well enough then I'll do it, but if I don't then I'm content because it's my fault, it's no-one else's.
“[My mindset] is probably just from the fact that I've always had to work for everything. Whatever I've had I feel like I've earned. Nothing is given to me, which I'm quite proud of. Again, if I ever play for England it's because I've earned it and I've worked hard and I've played well enough where I get the opportunity. If I don't, then fair enough.”
Dewsbury-Hall’s hope of giving himself the best chance of catching the attention of England selectors was one of the factors in his decision to leave Stamford Bridge, though the influence of Moyes and the stature of Everton were also key.
The former Leicester City midfielder won the Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup under Enzo Maresca at Chelsea, playing in both finals, but struggled for opportunities in the Premier League and wanted to secure more consistent first-team football.
Dewsbury-Hall, who was speaking to the ECHO and others as he supported an event by charity Everton in the Community to deter vulnerable children from being drawn toward crime, said: “I want to play every week, where if I play well this week, people are excited to watch me play next week, and I play well next week.
“Then you start building an image and building a bit of a fan base where it's like: ‘He's got traction here’. This felt like the perfect club and time. I'm going to give it everything to help. I want to help the club. If that [England] comes with it, then perfect, but I know the better this club does, the better chance there is for me to do external stuff.”
Moyes was a central factor in the £25m move and the manager has praised Dewsbury-Hall’s immediate impact, arguing last week that with Jack Grealish taking most of the headlines, his number 22’s form was going under the radar.
The Blues boss said: “He’s given us more quality in the final third - I think Kiernan has probably been as good as anybody in what he’s done for the team.”
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