REPUBLIC OF IRELAND:FAI OFFICIALS last night declined to comment on reports that left-sided Newcastle United player Shane Ferguson is set to become the latest Northern Ireland international to defect to the Republic.

Reports in the northern media suggest that the 19-year-old is considering the switch and the Belfast Telegraphquoted IFA president Jim Shaw as saying: "It would be another disappointment for us if Shane decides to go."

Ferguson, whose career started with Derry City at a time when he juggled soccer with Gaelic football, is certainly eligible to make the switch having never played competitively for Northern Ireland at senior level.

He has been capped at various underage levels from under-17 up and came on for the seniors in a friendly against Italy in Pisa almost two years ago.

Despite his progress at club level since then, though, he hasn’t featured at all for Nigel Worthington, fuelling further speculation that he is not entirely comfortable with progressing his international career north of the border.

His loss would be another significant blow to Worthington and the IFA who have already seen the likes of Darron Gibson, Marc Wilson, Daniel Kearns and, most recently, Paul George declare for the Republic.

The Kearns case provided the basis for an appeal to CAS over the prevailing interpretation of Fifa’s eligibility rules, under which any player born in Northern Ireland is currently permitted to declare for the Republic on the basis on his entitlement to an Irish passport. The IFA lost at CAS and has essentially run out of ways to challenge the present rules.

Despite his youth, Ferguson has made an impact at Newcastle this year, looking equally at ease when playing either at left-back or wide on the left of midfield.

Only this week, former Newcastle United left back John Beresford sang his praises in the local media.