Newcastle captain Kevin Nolan did consider representing Ireland on account of his grandparents after acknowledging his chances of an England cap are over. The former Bolton star has joined the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard as English midfielders who have netted 50 goals in the Premier League.
And it because of those two that the 27 year old has never been considered for the England set-up.
But he does not qualify for Ireland through his grandparents and accepts that his international career is over.
Nolan said in The Sun: "It's unbelievable, I didn't realise I was getting close to my 50th goal. It makes me very proud.
"It's amazing I haven't got an England cap, isn't it?
"But Lampard and Gerrard are a cut above. They've been world class year-in, year-out in the Premier League. England has gone for me."
He added: "The possibility of playing for Ireland has been brought up a number of times but unfortunately my grand ad and my nans are only a quarter Irish, or half Irish, and they need to be fully Irish!
"I did try and cheat like Tony Cascarino did by going over and having 14 pints of Guinness. Didn't work though."
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