Rangers starlet Charlie McCann switches int’l allegiances to N. Ireland
Rangers midfielder Charlie McCann has switched his international allegiance away from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland, according to BBC Sport.
The 21-year-old, who signed for the Light Blues in the summer for £750,000 from Manchester United, has played Under-18s football for the Irish national side but the Under-21s manager Jim Crawford confirmed he has decided to try his hand elsewhere.
McCann made his debut for the Gers in the Scottish Cup against Annan Athletic last month while being a regular for the B Team at Ibrox.
BBC Sport reported the 21-year-old’s switch and quoted Crawford as saying, “I spoke to Charlie a few weeks ago, It’s unfortunate that he’s looking now to go and play with Northern Ireland.
“I had to say to Charlie that you have to realise that we have Gavin Kilkenny, Conor Coventry, Ross Tierney, Dawson Devoy, Will Smallbone, these players that are all really talented players.
“Charlie is a very good player as well but unfortunately, he didn’t get ahead of them.”
Best for both parties
From every angle, the switch makes perfect sense and it should be a fantastic opportunity for McCann to experience playing against the biggest sides.
He probably won’t get into the senior squad until he is a regular starter at Ibrox or somewhere else but the prospect is far more possible with Northern Ireland than if he had stayed with the Republic.
Rangers must see plenty of potential in him to pay three-quarters of a million pounds and put him into the B team and Giovanni van Bronckhorst will need to see him light up the international scene after his change.
On the surface, McCann has all the ability to go on and be one of the league’s best midfield talents and he should make his international senior bow as soon as he establishes himself.
Whether he can stay grounded and keep working hard is the final big hurdle he has to leap over before he can say he’s made it.
In other Rangers news, this senior star has been likened to Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.