McAteer reveals why he rebuffed Northern Ireland to declare for the Republic

KASEY McATEER has revealed he rebuffed an approach from Northern Ireland to declare for the Republic instead.

The Leicester City winger was named in Heimir Hallgrímsson’s first squad, after being pursued by both Stephen Kenny and John O’Shea.

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But with a grandfather from Belfast as well as well as a grandmother from Offaly, the Northampton native could also have lined out for Michael O’Neill’s side.

And McAteer said: “There were a few conversations had but not as much as I had with the Republic.

“It definitely was a possibility. When I first heard about it, it was a big moment, ‘Wow a country is coming for me and wanting me to play for them’.

“But when I first started speaking to the Republic there was also a lot of interest shown, that was an ongoing thing with phone calls and emails et cetera.

“I felt like here was the place for me to be. I felt really wanted here.

“That’s when I wanted to take it further, and get my Irish passport and Irish citizenship done and dusted with, so I am glad I got it done. Hopefully I can give my best for the country. 

“I had a lot of connections with here with John O’Shea and people in the past who had called me.

“My grandma was from County Offaly. She was born there, she grew up there and then she moved out to Birmingham when she was in her 20s and then to Northampton where she settled down with my grandfather.

“My grandfather was born in Belfast and came down at a similar time and that is where the link was.

“My late uncle Joe was a massive follower of Ireland. Everywhere he went he wore a little Irish badge and always reminded me that my blood is with Ireland.

“That was always drilled into me from young and hopefully he can be proud looking down on me.

“There are seven of my family coming over. They are all looking forward to it.

“I had a phone call with them last night, with my mum and dad, and they are all excited to be coming over and I am sure they will have a great time.”

And, aside from their relatives here, there could be some more familiar faces, as they know Callum Robinson’s family.

McAteer said: “My parents and his parents know each other well. We have had a conversation about that in the camp.

“I don’t know if his parents are coming to the game, but if they are I’m sure they will have a good catch up.”

Although it was Kenny who had initiated the contact, and O’Shea had tried to bring him in during his time as interim boss, his first time in camp coincides with a new manager.

Asked about Hallgriímsson, he said: “He has been very good. We have only been training two days.

“While we have been having a few meetings too with him and staff and there is a clear vision in the squad and obviously we respect that the game coming up against England is a very tough game.

“Obviously Greece will be as well. We have to be fully ready for that.

Good character?

“He does not give too much away but he has been good to me in so many ways and the boys have taken to him, too.

“Obviously we are coming up against a world-class side in England we are going to have to have our own game-plan to nullify what they have and what they bring to us.

“At the end of the day, it is XI v XI on Saturday and hopefully we can put our game-plan onto them and get the result we all want.”

LEICESTER CITY

McAteer was reared on dreams of emulating the Leicester side which won the Premier League in the 2014-15 season rather than pulling on the green shirt with one obvious idol.

He explained: “I think the one that would come straight into my head would be Jamie Vardy. Obviously that season, when they won the league, he was unbelievable.

“His story coming from non-league, all the way to the Premier League, and finishing with the title.

“And now to being in a dressing room where I can call him my team-mate, you take a lot from his past experiences. I just try and learn day by day from him.”

The 22-year-old also learned his trade during loan spells with Forest Green Rovers and Wimbledon which, he believed, set him up for his first-team breakthrough last season.

Although he had played once in the Premier League in the 2022-23 campaign, he clocked up 23 appearances, and six goals, last term and it would have been higher were it not for injury problems.

And he said: “Going down to League Two, you really have to learn the hard way, you don’t really get the luxury of being looked after like you do in the Premier League and Championship.

“You have to go down to those leagues and suffer at times and, coming into the Championship, I felt it was my time really, to put my stamp on things at Leicester.

“A few injuries held me back during the season but I’ve managed to come through them and I feel stronger day by day and hopefully I can just take that forward going into the Premier League.

“It’s the best league in the world in my opinion so hopefully every time I get to play in the Premier League I can show what I can do.”

To date, he has had just cameo appearances in their first three games back at the top flight and is happy to put his hand up for any role Hallgrímsson has for him.

POWER PLAY

He said: “I’d like to say my biggest strength is my running power. I like to run, I think you can tell with my long legs, it’s probably one of my biggest assets.

“Obviously growing up at Leicester you learn different positions you can play, I’ve played in the past at wing-back, on the wing, centre midfield, the wing, in the 10.

“If I could narrow it down I’d probably say right or left wing.

“In training I’ve been playing on the wing, or in the middle, in the 10 role.

“But I’ll play wherever the gaffer wants to play for me and I’ll always give my best for the country and hopefully I can deliver the things I can bring to the team.”

And he reckons, after some initial nerves, a debut against his home country would not faze him.

He said: “I’d like to think so but I’d definitely feel it, it being my first appearance and against England.

“But at the end of the day it’s what I’ve done since I could walk, play football.

“I am here to do a job, so I have to remember that, keep it to the back of my mind and deliver the best I can for this country if given the chance.”