CELTIC’S stylish midfielder Matt O’Riley is poised for a shock World Cup call-up – for DENMARK!
The former England youth international has been an instant hit at the Hoops since his £1.5million switch from League One outfit MK Dons last month.
O’Riley, 21, won the Man of the Match award in his excellent debut against Hearts at Tynecastle where he put in an eye-catching performance in the crucial 2-1 triumph.
And the middle-of-the-park performer, whose mother was born in Scandinavia, has now attracted the attention of the Danes who are in the process of assembling their squad for the football extravaganza in Qatar in winter.
THE BHOY DANE GOOD…Matt O’Riley in his impressive debut against Hearts.
O’Riley, speaking to the Daily Record, said: “I played for England youth teams, but at the same time I do feel quite Danish. My mum’s Danish, I can speak a decent amount, I can understand a very good amount, so, in that sense, I don’t think it’s something that’s out of the question at all.
“And if I did get a call-up from Denmark then I don’t think I’d be saying no.”
Flemming Berg, the Danish FA’s talent development manager, has admitted the player, who scored his first Celtic goal in the 3-2 win over Aberdeen at Pittodrie last week, has already trained with their youth teams.
He added: “We have had contact with Matt. He informed us, along with his agent and his family, that he would be interested in playing for Denmark.
“He is part of our talent pool now. If we thought he had no interest from him, he wouldn’t be on the list.
“Matt has also been to training sessions with the youth national teams on several occasions.”
O’Riley did not figure in the 4-0 Scottish Cup win over Raith Rovers at the weekend, but will be part of Ange Postecoglou’s squad for tomorrow night’s Europa Conference League encounter against the Norwegians of Bodo/Glimt at another full-house Parkhead.
