Toon Defender Snubs Call From His Country

Last updated : 07 October 2011 By Footy Mad - Editor

NI

The manager wanted the 20-year-old to go to Belfast to replace the injured Jonny Evans, but, for the second time this year, received no response from the player.

In May, the manager revealed he had been unable to raise Ferguson on the phone, and he has again failed to contact the left-back ahead of the Group C double-header.

There were concerns on the first occasion that Ferguson, who has one friendly cap but has yet to represent the senior side in a competitive fixture, was poised to switch his allegiance to the Republic of Ireland.

He subsequently accepted a call to play for the Under-21s last month, seemingly putting the issue to bed, only for Worthington to be frustrated again this time.

Nigel Worthington: “I’ve been trying for 36 to 48 hours to get in contact with the boy to let him know I’d like to draft him into the squad.

“His club has been notified, but we’ve had no contact.

"It beggars belief when you read in the press that people want to represent their country and when you give them the opportunity to do so there’s no willingness, or manners, to say ‘no I don’t want to be involved’ or ‘yes, I’m coming’.

“I can only do what I’ve done. People at the Irish Football Association have done what they do and we can’t do any more. We can’t put hands on and literally drag people in.”

“When I was a young man, if you were selected for your country you were on the first plane over.

"I hope he sees sense and wants to represent the country."