Hale international clearance 'a work in progress'published at 14:35 5 November
Image source, Getty ImagesRonan Hale (right) in action for Ross County against Rangers' Connor Barron
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill says the process of securing international clearance for Ronan Hale to switch allegiance from the Republic of Ireland remains "a work in progress".
The Ross County striker remains unavailable for selection for the forthcoming Nations League matches against Belarus and Luxembourg on 15 and 18 November.
The 26-year-old former Cliftonville frontman played for the Republic at age-group level, before deciding to begin the process of becoming available to Northern Ireland.
"It’s a work in progress. It is an administration process which is in the hands of Fifa. There were one or two things around passports being produced and that has all been done," explained Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill.
"I kind of knew when I had the conversation with Ronan, I warned him this is not something that will be done overnight. I’ve seen this take as long as six, eight, 10 months on occasions so the important thing is that we follow all the right steps, which we have."
O'Neill had hoped to have the forward at his disposal for some of his side's Nations League Group C3 fixtures but must now hope that the former Irish League striker will be available for the start of the World Cup qualifying campaign in March.
“What determines how a player does at international level, and whether he is selected, is their club form. So Ronan just has to continue what he has been doing and that’s focus on his club game.
“He was on the bench on Saturday for Ross County, He did well in the second half, so we are watching him as a player we intend to look at and come under consideration to be picked for the squad."
