The Republic of Ireland are prepared to issue a 'Morrison' visa as a passport to international recognition for £4m-rated Crystal Palace striker, Clinton Morrison. The FAI have been on the trail of the 21-year-old striker for 12 months since being made aware that Morrison was eligible to play for Ireland through a Dublin-born grandmother.
"We've been chasing Clinton for over a year now," confirmed Ian Evans, McCarthy's number two last night. "It's delicate because he's stated his designs on playing for England and we haven't wanted to exert any pressure on him. Clinton is an improving player who's still eligible for the U-21s. Unlike England, We're not blessed with millions of centre-forwards which is one of our bargaining points when it comes to players declaring allegiance to a country."
Evans, a former 'Palace captain, has strong contacts there where Ray Houghton, the former Irish midfield ace, is assistant manager to Alan Smith. "It's been mentioned to Clinton about our interest but neither myself nor Mick have spoken to him face to face yet. It's likely we'll talk to him in the coming weeks. We'll keep chipping away but Clinton has got to want to declare for Ireland. We can't make him," said Evans.
Morrison, transfer listed earlier this season when his attitude was questioned by Smith, has capitalised on Palace's Worthington Cup run, scoring spectacular goals against Sunderland in the quarter-finals and Liverpool in the first leg of the semi-finals last Wednesday.
He is currently being tracked by a clutch of Premiership clubs, including Arsenal, whose manager, Arsene Wenger, confirmed last night: "Morrison is one of a number of players we're looking at."
Steve Staunton, who face his former club Liverpool at Villa Park today, wants to end his club career at Aston Villa. Staunton, 32 next Friday, has signed a contract to take him up to the summer of 2003 but has no intention of stopping then. "I want to play on and get another contract," he said. "I want to finish my career here. People mention your age but you only have to look at Stuart Pearce and Nigel Winterburn who are still doing the business."
And Steve Carr has rubbished speculation that he may require surgery to cure a nagging groin injury. The 24-year-old full-back misses his fourth successive game for Spurs today but insists he is on the mend: "The injury has got better, it's a case of getting treatment and rest. I've not been told I may need an operation so I don't know where that story has come from." (Irish Independent)
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
