It’s fair to say some Ireland fans have a paranoia when it comes to picking English-born players that if they come good they’ll ditch Ireland and play for their country of birth. Tom Cannon is trying to prove he’s not like the others.
The Leicester City forward was selected for his first Republic of Ireland senior squad after having an impressive last two seasons. The Everton academy product was a sensation at Preston North End in 2022/23, scoring 8 goals in the second half of the season while also breaking into the Ireland U21s squad.
He scored a goal on his debut at U21 level and had a lot of suitors chasing his signature. He would make the €8.8 million move to Leicester City last summer and it was around that time where word of a potential England approach was made to Tom Cannon to play for their U21s.
Stephen Kenny wanted to select Cannon last summer but he was ruled out with tonsillitis and with the FA reportedly making an approach, it started to feel like a bit of déjà vu for Ireland fans.
READ MORE: John O’Shea Says Tom Cannon Is Committed To Ireland After First Senior Call-Up
However Cannon has now committed his future to the Republic of Ireland and when speaking to the media he was ready to reassure everyone that England wasn’t on his mind.
I would not even say I was in two minds, it was more of a case that when I have been called up to play for Ireland, I have come. Previously when call ups have come, I have arrived here. Under Stephen Kenny, I had tonsillitis [in June 2023], so obviously I could not come into camp
I have been, yes [100% committed to Ireland], it is just that you newspapers like to create stories and headlines about England. I have always been committed to Ireland, hence why I am here.
Tom Cannon didn’t deny the approach by the FA however and said discussions took place between Cannon’s agent and England U21 manager Lee Carsley.
There is some truth in [an approach from England], my agent received a call. I never had any conversations with anyone. I am happy to be here. It has been very good since I got here, I have enjoyed it, meeting all the new lads. It has been class. I knew a few of them from playing for previous clubs. It has been nice to see them.
I think it was more Lee Carsley spoke to my agent but I did not speak to Lee Carsley or Gareth Southgate.
It is something you do have to think about, because of the scenario, it never really entered my head in terms of I am going to have to pick one over the other, more [a case] of taking a step back from it and looking at the situation and going from there.
When the reports initially came out Cannon received a lot of backlash online but the Aintree-born man didn’t bite back and said he just wanted to focus on club football.
Maybe but maybe it was best to let it all be, people believe what they want to believe, I saw on my phone and I felt it was best not to react, it would create more of a thing but maybe I should have come out and said something but it wasn’t my place.
Stephen said what he said but at the same time I was ill, I had tonsillitis.
Maybe so, it depends what way you look at it. England got in touch with my agent and I was keeping out of it, I didn’t want to get involved, I had enough to focus on at club football, I wanted to focus on that.
Whatever previous reports have claimed, Tom Cannon has now committed his future to Ireland and hopefully he can start his International career with a bang in the two friendlies against Hungary and Portugal later this month.
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