JAMBOS WILL HELP ME GET MORE CAPS
GLENN WHELAN admits he turned down bigger offers to sign for Hearts.
The 35-year-old joined Craig Levein’s Jambos in August after leaving Aston Villa and is now in Mick McCarthy’s Republic of Ireland squad for Euro qualifiers against Georgia and Switzerland.
The midfielder had lucrative options abroad but decided to move to Tynecastle to save his international career.
Whelan said: “I had one or two options abroad that were really interesting. The manager (McCarthy) wasn’t too keen because the league wasn’t probably as strong as where I’m playing now or where I was.
“He wants me to play as high and competitively as much as I can. If it was down to money I would be gone, in the sun somewhere.
“But for me it has never been about money or earning a certain wage. I’m happy playing football and that’s all I want to do.
“So it was about getting BY GABRIEL McKAY the club right for the family and to have a chance playing for Ireland. I want to play at the Euros so I spoke to a few people and in the end Hearts was the right decision.
“I want to have a great chance of qualifying and I would love to still be around and be a part of it.
“The manager at Hearts has been really good to me. He has given me time off to see the family and spend hours down there.”
The Jambos crashed to defeat at home to Killie before the international break with a host of players sidelined through injury.
And Levein would love to get to a point where he has a selection headache.
He said: “My dilemma for who will start isn’t a thing just now.
“Having too many good players isn’t something that currently worries me.
“But in the next six weeks it might become something. I hope that it does.”