Jake Clarke-Salter has declared an interest in playing for Ireland - despite not giving up on his England dream.
The former Chelsea man, who this month joined QPR on a four-year deal after his Blues contract expired, says he qualifies for Ireland through his grandmother.
“My grandma was born in Ireland and all those on my mum’s side are pretty much Irish so I qualify for Ireland as well,” said the left-footed centre-back.
“I haven’t told anyone in the game that before. I would be open to it, yes. It is international football so I want to play.
“I just have to keep doing my thing on the pitch and if Ireland come calling, then me and my family will have to have a conversation.
“They have always supported me when I’ve played for the younger England age groups but they encourage me to play for Ireland now too.”
In an interview with The Athletic, Clarke-Salter, 24, said he wants to play on the biggest stages of all by reaching World Cups and European Championships.
“When you’re a kid, you dream of playing in a European Championships or a World Cup,” he continued.
“I’ve done it at youth level so it is only natural for me to want to do it at senior level as well.”
Clarke-Salter was a member of the England Under-20 side that won the World Cup in 2017.
And he progressed to captain the Three Lions at Under-21 level, winning 12 caps between 2018 and 2019.
His international progress stalled at that point and he has not been selected at senior level by Gareth Southgate, but refuses to close the door on that possibility.
“I see some of the players around the England camp and they didn’t get caps until they were 26-27,” he said.
“I look at people like Conor Coady and Tyrone Mings for inspiration that I can do what they did. It will always be an ambition to get an international cap.”
But those comments in particular are unlikely to go down well within Stephen Kenny’s squads as Clarke-Salter hedges his bets.
And anyway, the Boys in Green are already well stocked in defence, where Nathan Collins this month emerged as a key centre-back.
Wanted by a host of Premier League clubs, the Burnley man impressed in the four Nations League games this month and scored a stunner against Ukraine.
John Egan and Shane Duffy are Kenny favourites while Dara O’Shea is another making strides under this manager.
New Middlesbrough recruit Darragh Lenihan made his competitive debut this month and Andrew Omobamidele is still to come back from injury having burst onto the international scene late last year.
Clarke-Salter, who can also operate on the left of a three man-defence and even at wing-back, spent 16 years at Chelsea but only made one appearance when he was 18.
He has had loan spells at Coventry City, Birmingham City, Dutch side Vitesse, Sunderland and Bristol Rovers and was linked with Sheffield United before joining QPR.
When Clarke-Salter made his Premier League debut off the bench in a 4-0 win over Aston Villa in 2016, Chelsea legend John Terry predicted big things for him.
And the former England international even claimed that Clarke-Salter could one day take over from him as the Blues defensive leader.
Terry said at the time: "Jake has a great attitude. I remember watching him a couple of years ago being in control of the game and a really vocal player.
“He reminds me a bit of myself. He is doing great and I hope he goes on to take my position and get in the first team.”
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