Northern Ireland find themselves in a difficult position when it comes to bringing through international players.
At the back of their mind, they always must consider the possibility that their players could opt for a switch to the Republic of Ireland. All players born north of the border are entitled to an Irish passport, meaning they are also within their rights to play for the country in international football.
There have been numerous high profile examples down through the years. The likes of James McClean, Shane Duffy, Marc Wilson, and Mark Sykes have all been capped by Northern Ireland at underage only to then line out for the Republic of Ireland at senior level.
It is a situation that looks unlikely to change anytime soon, with another player now looking as though he could make the switch.
FAI eyeing move for Cliftonville's Sean Moore
The Belfast Telegraph are reporting that the FAI have made contact with Cliftonville winger Sean Moore over a switch to the Republic of Ireland.
A hugely talented 17-year old winger, Moore has starred at club level this season, making 15 appearances in the Irish Premiership. He was recently labelled by Cliftonville Head of Youth Development Marc Smyth as 'the best young player in Northern Ireland'.
A moment of Sean Moore magic 💫
⚽️ @cliftonvillefc #DanskeBankPrem pic.twitter.com/hxb7OtLuuN— NI Football League (@OfficialNIFL) January 5, 2023
Capped by Northern Ireland up to U18 level, he has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs in recent months.
It now appears as though his international future is also in doubt, with the FAI reportedly very keen to bring him into the Irish underage setup.
Of course, adding a player with Sean Moore's potential would be a major boost to the Republic of Ireland, even at this early stage in his career. While he is likely to be some way off senior level, you'd imagine he would quickly be integrated into the U19 or U21 squads.
This is one to keep an eye on.
SEE ALSO: Where Are They Now - The Ireland Team From Giovanni Trapattoni's Final Game
