Republic of Ireland players at Leicester as one soon need to decide after fantastic display in starting position

Embed from Getty Images

Tom Cannon has in his two starts for Leicester scored three goals. Latest in the FA Cup 3-2 win away to Millwall. He has still not made up his mind of what to do regarding his full international career, soon to be decided as he looks close to a full debut for Republic of Ireland.

Cannon is born in Aintree, Merseyside, but has been part of youth set up for Republic Ireland. He made his first u.21 appearance in March 2023, scoring on his debut vs. Iceland.

Tom Cannon would surely be capped at full international level if he decides to represent Republic of Ireland, but to say goodbye to a chance to play for England is also one major decision to take.

Tom Cannon was a month ago, fourth choice behind Kelechi Iheanacho, Patson Daka and Jamie Vardy at Leicester, competing for that single role up front. With injuries to Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho and the AFCON tournament happening for Patson Daka, Cannon is at the moment, the one to chose.

A3- Sean St Ledger scored Ireland's one and only goal at the Euro 2012 finals (v Croatia) #stpatricksdayquiz pic.twitter.com/xGpnFaO28x
— Football Careers (@footycareers) March 17, 2016

Looking back you will find a number of Leicester players to have represented Republic of Ireland. Sean St. Ledger is the most recent, being at Leicester from 2011 to 2014. He was a favourite for many years in the Eire back four, picking up 37 caps and scoring 3 goals.

One of the most legendary players ever to play for Republic of Ireland is Packy Bonnar. The goalkeeper with 80 caps, representing Celtic as his only senior club, playing 483 league games for the Scottish giants. Bonnar was at youth level representing Leicester, but with Peter Shilton and Mark Wallington at the club, he was not seen as a man to give a chance.

Jimmy Holmes and David Langan er two other Republic of Ireland internationals to have played for Leicester, both having short stays and more known for their days at Coventry, Spurs (JH), Derby, Birmingham and Oxford (DL). Holmes added up 30 caps, Langan 26.

Gerry Daly is also one to mention. He spent a few months on loan at Leicester, helping the club win promotion to the top flight in 1982/83. Surprisingly that move never became permanent. Gerry Daly had a great career playing for Man Utd, Derby and Coventry during his best years in English football. A legend for his country, being capped 48 times.

Jonny Hayes only played 7 league games for Leicester before moving north to play for Inverness, Celtic and Aberdeen. He is still with Aberdeen. He is 36 year age today, and surely looks to have landed on his 4 caps. A good flank midfielder making the most of his career north of the boarder.

Joe Waters also comes to mind, as his game vs. QPR in the FA Cup stands as a top mark of his Leicester years, playing in total 13 league games, before making a move to Grimsby, being at Leicester from 1971 to 1976. During his days with The Mariners he also was called up to the Ireland squad, adding 2 caps and 1 goal to his name.

Conrad Logan is another goalkeeper that played a number of league games for Leicester, being at the club for almost a decade, adding up 23 league games, being first and for most a loan man, as well as being a backup and cover for Kasper Schmeichel. He never played at full international level for the Republic of Ireland, being born in Letterkenny.

Tom Kilkelly is a former Leicester player from Republic of Ireland, playing once in the first team in a FA Cup third place tie vs. Burnley in 1974. Kilkelly never played in a competetive first team game for Leicester, and for that reason not in the list of first team players.

Damien Delaney also comes to mind, so does Pat Byrne, both Irish players playing the highest level with Leicester in the top flight of English football. David Connolly is another Irish player to mention, so is Paddy McCarthy, a defender captaining Leicester on a number of occasions.

David Kelly played for Republic of Ireland and to our notice the only player to have been at Leicester and represented this nation at a World Cup, it was the 1990 tournament.

To build a team of Leicester Irish we would pick the following,