Hallgrímsson’s snub of Mayo Ligue 1 midfielder raises Irish eyebrows

The omission of John Patrick from Heimir Hallgrímsson’s latest Republic of Ireland squad has left many Irish supporters scratching their heads, with the Stade Reims midfielder overlooked despite recent calls for his inclusion.

Patrick, who made the switch to the French top flight from Getafe in January, has been enjoying more senior minutes at club level than he did in Spain, albeit in a struggling Reims side that has suffered a sharp domestic downturn in form. The club’s cup run provided a rare bright spot, but the manager who brought John Patrick in has already been dismissed with an interim since taking charge.

Patrick is keenly aware of his Irish heritage through his Ballyhaunis-born father and has spoken recently about his dream to wear the green jersey and earn an international call-up.

Hallgrímsson acknowledged thatJohn Patrick was on his radar but pointed to inconsistency in his performances as a key factor in the decision to leave him out.

That reasoning has not satisfied sections of the Irish support, who see the powerful and technically gifted midfielder as a potential solution to the ongoing issues in Ireland’s midfield.

Online, fans have voiced their frustration, particularly as John Patrick remains eligible to declare for England and Spain. While the player himself has made clear his commitment to Ireland, continued exclusion from senior squads could test that loyalty.

Ireland travel to Plovdiv this weeked to take on Bulgaria at 7:45pm on Thursday for the first leg of their UEFA Nations League play-off against, before hosting the return fixture at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday evening.