Joshua Daniels has accepted an offer to join the U21 Republic of Ireland team.
The 20 year old Derry City winger has decided to play for the Republic of Ireland two years after playing for the Northern Irish underage team.
Daniels, who tragically lost five members of his family to the Buncrana Pier Tragedy last year, will join King’s team as they face an Irish amateur training game in Dublin next Saturday.
Daniels was very frank about why he wanted to make the switch, saying that he just wants to play football at an international level; whether that’s with the Northern Irish team or the Republic of Ireland.
Speaking to the Derry Journal, Daniels said; ““It’s a weird one because I was in the U19s when I was 18 and 19 for the North, but I just haven’t been called up in two years.
“I was seeing other boys who were getting called into squads and that was fair enough, but I was thinking I’m playing in the League of Ireland, we’re playing down South and most of the people who are going to be watching our games are going to be from Republic of Ireland or FAI.
“Then I got a phone call one day, saying that they thought I was doing well and they wanted me in their squad, so it took a while to get there but it’s finally through and I just can’t wait to play.
“I just want to play international football. I told Northern Ireland that if it had have been the other way about I would have done the exact same thing. I want to play football whether it’s with the U21’s with the Republic or U21’s for Northern Ireland it didn’t matter, whoever was first to come and that’s what I made clear.
“I’m not switching because it’s the Republic of Ireland, I’m switching because I haven’t been called up (for Northern Ireland) in two years and I want to play international football.”
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