Irish Daily Mirror

PAT: I’LL PLAY IN EITHER GREEN

- BY PAUL O’HEHIR

PATRICK MCELENEY hopes to profit from Stephen Kenny’s sudden climb up the ladder.

At Dundalk together, Kenny regularly touted playmaker Mceleney for senior internatio­nal honours.

The Derry man, 26, has represente­d both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland at underage level.

And while describing himself as “an Ireland fan”, he admitted yesterday that he is open to approaches from both associatio­ns.

“I actually don’t know where I’m from!

Northern Ireland, Republic.

“I’ve said it before, if Michael O’neill (above) came tomorrow and said, ‘Look, I’m interested,’ I’d love to sit down and it would be the same the other way around.

“But I’m focused on Dundalk at the minute and me getting back to where I should be, to even get close to that.”

Yet Mceleney knows it could be to his advantage that Kenny is taking charge of the Republic in 2020.

And in the meantime, his old boss might even have a word in Mick Mccarthy’s ear.

Mceleney said: “Anything can happen in two years and I’ll just keep my head down and do everything I can for Dundalk.

“Maybe [Mccarthy] will come to a few games and judge for himself.

“But if you’re asking me are there players in the League of Ireland who can play, I think so.”

 ??  ?? A NEW EIRE Ireland U-21 boss Stephen Kenny GLORIOUS Patrick Mceleney and Dundalk have enjoyed huge success under Stephen Kenny who has joined the Ireland set-up
A NEW EIRE Ireland U-21 boss Stephen Kenny GLORIOUS Patrick Mceleney and Dundalk have enjoyed huge success under Stephen Kenny who has joined the Ireland set-up
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