IFA deny offering Swansea boss Rodgers Northern Ireland job part-time

NEWS ROUND-UP:THE IFA has denied claims that Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers was offered the Northern Ireland job on a part-time basis, with senior officials insisting they will meet candidates soon in an attempt to appoint someone "in good time" for February's friendly against Norway.

Michael O’Neill is reported to be one of those in line to be interviewed for the vacancy. Jim Magilton, Iain Dowie, Gerry Armstrong and Dave Jones are also said to feature on the association’s shortlist.

Meanwhile, Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has expressed surprise that Marc Wilson’s club form hasn’t counted for more on the international front with the 24-year-old failing to add to the nine minutes of football he got for the Republic of Ireland on his debut against Wales in February.

Wilson, who can play in a variety of positions in midfield or defence, has established himself as a regular and important player for Pulis, but he has not yet recovered ground lost with Giovanni Trapattoni before the summer when he was named in the Italian’s team to face Northern Ireland but then failed to make the journey to Dublin for the game.

Nevertheless Pulis feels that he has something to offer ahead of the European Championships. “I think he should be in their team now,” he said, “but I don’t pick their team. He has been outstanding this year. We have played him at full back and he has not played there before and he has still been outstanding.”

A slightly more far-fetched claim for a place in the travelling party for Poland next summer has been made on behalf of Sunderland’s James McClean by the club’s former chairman Niall Quinn who says that the player has the potential to make a big impact in the Premier League once he finally manages to break into the first team.

“James is about to make his debut, there’s no doubt about that. I’ve watched James warm up, after having been told to take off his tracksuit on a couple of occasions but it just hasn’t happened for him due to circumstances,” said the former Ireland striker.

“He’s been flying in training and for the reserve team, though. We played Newcastle United in front of a very big crowd a few weeks ago and he was absolutely outstanding in that game. He is a really hard-working player and an intelligent guy when on the ball.

“The first week he came he absolutely bowled Steve Bruce over with his attitude and I’ve no doubt he will do exactly the same to Martin O’Neill. We have set James certain targets over the next few months as we believe he could actually be a good outside bet to be included in the Irish squad going to the Euros next June,” said Quinn who is now the International Development Director at the Stadium of Light.

After the lights went out on what was supposed to be his first game in charge at Hibernian, Pat Fenlon will have another crack at getting off the mark when his team take on Rangers in the Scottish Premier League today (ESPN 12.30pm kick-off).

“This is a great game for everyone to be involved with,” he said. “I want everyone to embrace that – we’re playing the champions at home. They should go out and put on a show and get to the level that they should be reaching.”