On the back of recent dismal results, Ireland football fans have been looking for glimmers of hope. One of those glimmers revolves around the international status of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
The Everton midfielder has flashed huge talent since breaking through with Leicester in 2019. He is also uncapped for England and Irish-qualified.
There have been growing murmurs of a possible approach from the FAI this autumn, and speaking in August, Heimir HallgrÃmsson said he'd be interested in bringing the Everton player into his squad.
The Irish presence at Everton and the standing of Séamus Coleman in the club gave some Ireland fans a hope that Dewsbury-Hall could be convinced to declare allegiance to Ireland
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Well, Dewsbury-Hall has tonight confirmed his international status and it's bad news for Ireland fans.
'I See Myself As English': Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
Dewsbury-Hall confirmed the news to Everton TV late Saturday that he intends to push for a place in the England team.
While it's disappointing for Ireland fans, it must be said Dewsbury-Hall's comments were hugely laudable, saying it 'wouldn't feel right' to play for Ireland when his heart is set on receiving an England call-up.
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"I told him where my head is at and that is that I see myself as English and the biggest dream of mine would be to play for England.
"It would be unfair of me to keep saying, 'I want to play for the Republic of Ireland', when that's probably not what I want to do, as much as I respect Irish people, their fans and the way they are. It just wouldn't feel right for me.
"I want to give myself a chance of playing for England, which is a lifelong dream.
Dewsbury-Hall confirmed that Seamus Coleman had spoken to him about the switch and had plenty of praise for his club captain in his response.
"I feel like now there's a great opportunity for me, in terms of playing at a massive club that's on the up, I'm trying to play regular football here. Then it's just down to me," he said.
"I still believe that I can do it if I play well enough. That's where my head is at and Seamus knows that. He's the kind of guy who will say, 'Yes, I believe in you and I trust that whatever you want to do you're going to go all in to achieve it'. He was great in terms of that."
The news won't come as a major surprise given Dewsbury-Hall has played underage for Ireland at any level, but it's still a huge disappointment considering his quality.
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