Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou reckons there is a chance that Matt O’Riley can muscle his way into the Denmark squad for the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.
O’Riley has been called up to play international football for the very first time after being contacted by the Danish football association to represent the nation of his mother. Former Celtic player and now assistant manager of the senior Denmark squad Morten Wieghorst has been seen at matches recently viewing O’Riley from the stands, which in turn has led to the player getting the call from Denmark’s Under-21 coach Jesper Sorensen to join his team for the clash against Belgium on Tuesday.
O’Riley was an England youth international. As well as England, he is eligible to represent Denmark and Norway due to his mother’s side of the family. It seems however that Denmark have stolen a march on the others as they look to integrate him into the Under-21 set up before ultimately promoting him to the senior squad if he cuts the mustard at that level.
His manager at Celtic, Ange Postecoglou, believes that with the 2022 World Cup not until December that there is still a chance for the playmaker to push his way into the squad that will head to Qatar. As reported in Daily Record, Ange said:
“I’m super pleased for him. International football will be great for him. It will add to him as a player and as a person, experiencing a different environment, even training with different types of players. It will be brilliant for him. I’ve said before, I think international football is great for players, especially young players, and I’m sure he’ll take a lot from it.
“I think it’s fully deserved as well. He was great before he came to us but since he came here he’s handled himself really well, particularly in big games. I’m sure in the back of his mind he’ll be thinking there’s a World Cup at the end of the year. It’s a big incentive for him. That’s what international football gives to players.
“Whether or not that comes too soon for him, who knows, but I’m sure he’ll do everything in his power.”
Ange Postecoglou is correct in saying that international football will be a positive experience for O’Riley. The talented midfielder has taken a unique route to get to where he is currently and all these experiences will only create a better, more rounded player.
O’Riley was seen as a future star while in the youth ranks at Fulham, impressing for his club and even making it into the underage England set ups. With opportunities limited in the first team, O’Riley took the brave decision to turn down a three year contract at Fulham and ended up signing for League One side MK Dons. He was rewarded for that decision only a year later when his impressive performances led to Celtic bringing him to Parkhead.
That move is already paying dividends for O’Riley, with the player receiving rave reviews which has led to this opportunity to represent a fantastic footballing nation like Denmark. No Celtic fan will be surprised if the cultured playmaker quickly makes the transition from the Under-21 set up to the seniors in the near future, although my own opinion is that unless the senior squad receives a host of injuries before the World Cup, I imagine it may come too soon as the manager will likely go with the players who got the team there.
The future is bright however for the Celtic midfielder, and if his club career so far is anything to go by it won’t take him long at all to progress quickly in the international set up.
Conall McGinty
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