KIERNAN DEWSBURY-HALL will not be calling on his Irish heritage in order to get a breakthrough in international football.
The Everton midfielder qualifies for Ireland selection via his grandfather but has not used it as a way of earning a cap.
With his England chances currently appearing slim – Dewsbury-Hall has not made a squad for the Three Lions and is yet to be picked by Thomas Tuchel either, just eight months out from the World Cup – the 27-year-old is not looking for another way in.
He told The Times: “My biggest dream as a footballer is to play international football.
“I respect Ireland and I respect the Irish people but I’m English.
“To play for England for me would be the biggest achievement of my career.
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“I think it would be wrong of me to keep letting things drag on when I’ve got a clear goal in my head to play for England one day.
“Ireland have been trying to get me to play for them for about five years.
“I’ve made my feelings known in terms of, ‘Look, I don’t want to make any decisions, I want to keep playing my football, concentrating on football and whatever happens, happens.’
“Just because I’ve seen so much speculation around it right now, I think it’s only fair of me to say my biggest dream would be to play for England.
“It would be the proudest moment of my life if I played for England.”
After a frustrating season at Chelsea last year, Dewsbury-Hall is delivering on the promise shown in the Championship at Leicester City.
The £29million man has scored and assisted for David Moyes in a bright start to life on Merseyside.
He has also picked up a ban for getting five yellow cards already, and form at the Hill-Dickinson Stadium has plateaued, but that is not getting Dewsbury-Hall down.
So much so, he is not ruling out making a late play for Tuchel’s final cut in America.
He added: “I don’t think anything is out of the question.
“You’ve seen players a year before they made their debut that wouldn’t have even been near the frame.
“It would be wrong of me to think I’ve got no chance to play for England. If I said that then I might as well hang my boots up.
I respect Ireland and I respect the Irish people but I’m English
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
“I know what I can bring to a football team and I know if you get an opportunity to play regular football and you play well enough, eventually, you’ve got to get an opportunity.
“As long as it’s down to me I’m happy. Without sounding cringey, I’ve never been given anything in my football career.
“I was never that kid that got the opportunity. I always had to work, work, work, work.
“That’s instilled in me. Whatever I’ve had I feel like I’ve earned, which I’m quite proud of.
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“I know there’s a lot of competition. England are one of the best nations in the world.
“Until I know the day it will never happen, I will never ever stop believing in that dream.”
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