Soccer: Having abandoned any hope of playing for England, Jermaine Pennant has set his sights on forcing his way into Giovanni Trapattoni's plans after announcing his intention to declare for the Republic of Ireland.
Despite winning 24 caps for England at under-21 level, the Stoke City winger has never featured at senior level and has been in contact with the FAI about switching his allegiances to Ireland.
Pennant, now back in the Premier League after a spell in Spain with Real Zaragoza, has an Irish grandfather.
"I'm 28, I'm not getting any younger and I'd like to play international football, whether it's with England or Ireland," Pennant told BBC Radio Stoke. "I'd love to play for England but it's just never happened.
"If I've got a chance to play international football with Ireland, I'm going to take it with both hands. They've asked previously and I said 'I want to try and play for England', but I never closed the door on it.
"I actually looked into it and texted my agent. I think he's contacted them to say 'he's eligible to play and he's interested', so we'll see what happens. Now they know that I'm interested, maybe they'll start watching me in games.
"You can't just click your fingers and say 'pick me for the team'. You've got to be playing well for your club before you play for any country."
Nottingham-born Pennant, whose former clubs include Arsenal, Birmingham and Liverpool, was jailed in 2005 for a drink-driving offence and at one point, played a game wearing an electronic tag following his release.
Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has worked hard to increase the depth of his squad during his time in charge with Pennant’s Stoke team-mates Glenn Whelan, Marc Wilson and Jon Walters among the beneficiaries.
However, the Italian is currently well served for wide midfielders with Damien Duff, Aiden McGeady, Liam Lawrence, Stephen Hunt, Keith Fahey and Andy Keogh having all played there for their country and Everton youngster Seamus Coleman emerging as a real talent.
Trapattoni’s men resume their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign at home to Macedonia later this month having endured mixed fortunes to date.
Victories over Armenia and Andorra were followed by a defeat at the hands of Russia and a draw in Slovakia, and that has left them in second place in Group B behind the Russians, but only on goal difference.
Ireland finished behind then reigning champions Italy in World Cup qualification and eventually missed out on a trip to last summer’s finals in South Africa after a controversial play-off defeat by France.
