I just want lads that want to represent Ireland’ – Séamus Coleman ready for Declan Rice’s Dublin return for England
Ireland captain Seamus Coleman says he’s “not concerned” about the reaction facing former Irish players Declan Rice and Jack Grealish from the Dublin crowd in Saturday’s Nations League clash
Coleman played in all three games when Rice was capped at senior level by Ireland in 2018, having graduated from the underage set-up so he has an insight into the mind of the player who then defected to England, but he insisted: “I just want lads that want to represent Ireland
Rice and Grealish – capped at every level bar senior with Ireland before his own move to the English camp – will get some attention from home fans in the sold-out crowd but Coleman’s focus is on his current teammates, not former ones
“Do they deserve it? I think that’s a leading question for me to give you a headline,” Coleman said when asked of the duo would merit a hot reception
“Listen, they chose who they wanted to represent. I’ve said it for long enough, whatever they feel they are, that’s what they chose to be
“I know Declan came and he played three games – I can only speak of Declan coming in as a person, good guy, top player as everyone knows, but I just want lads that want to represent Ireland and we’ve got that and we’re eager to do well.
