LUC, IF HE WANTS TO PLAY FOR US, GREAT

SEAMUS COLEMAN is happy to lay out the welcome mat for newcomer Luca Connell.

But the Republic of Ireland skipper insists nobody in the squad will be begging the 18-year-old to declare for the Boys in Green.

Connell, with Coleman, above, claimed he is ready to play against Denmark or Gibraltar if Mick Mccarthy adds him to the squad after his training camp performances in Portugal.

A character, the manager and players have already been won over by the Liverpudlian’s friendly and confident nature.

He has also turned heads on the Quinta do Lago training ground.

But Connell – who has been watched by heavyweights like Tottenham – is also potentially another Declan Rice in the making as England are keeping tabs.

Coleman said: “It doesn’t matter who comes through the door if they’ve got an English background. They’re getting welcomed like any young Irish player or whatever would get. It’s not a case of being overly-nice hoping they might stay – if the lads want to stay and play for Ireland, they will.

“If they don’t, they’re going to go on no matter what I do or the other lads do. There’s obviously been no talk of that from Luca whatsoever.”

Turning his sights to Denmark this day two weeks, Coleman insists Ireland ‘owe’ their old foes.

Memories of that haunting World Cup play-off debacle at Aviva Stadium still cloud the squad.

Coleman said: “You try your best not to go in with those thoughts, you just want to take the game on the game, but you just keep going back to it.

“I feel like we owe them one, definitely. We know that they’re a good nation with some Champions League players and all the rest, so it will be tough.

“We’ll set up like we did against Georgia and try to take the game to them. I’m glad we’re going away first and the togetherness that we have, we’re all looking forward to it.”