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But far from worrying about his failure to hold down a regular place in the side, O’Shea is enjoying the different challenges believing they will stand him a good stead in the future.
“I don’t know what my best position is and, to be honest, I just want to be in the first XI,” he said. “I’m don’t mind where I play or whether I keep moving around. I’m still young and I believe that the experience of playing in different positions can help me in the future.
“I played centre midfield from 11 to 16 before become a centre back and it’s only in the last few years that I’ve started playing in different positions again. Midfield is difficult because you’re surround by people unlike at left back and you need to have an awareness of things.
“I’m still adapting but if I’m given a run there, I think I will get better and better in there.
“But there are a lot of good midfielders with United and Ireland and if I get moved to a different position, I’ll still go out to play as well as I can.”
In 1997, Macken was a Manchester United youth team striker on the verge of a big money move to Preston North End – a move he hoped (correctly) would see him gain valuable first team experience ensuring a rapid rise to the Premiership.
1997 was also the year of the World Youth Championships in Malaysia and Macken received a late call-up to the tournament. From England, the country of his birth. Macken jumped at the chance.
Although aware of his Irish background - his grandparents are from County Cavan – Macken did not know had an Irish scout ever been to watch him play in Manchester United’s Youth team.
“I was busy with the move to Preston when the call came and I just jumped at the chance,” said Macken. “I didn’t even think about what affect it would have on my international career.”
At the same time as Macken was finalising his move to Preston and jumping on a plane to Malaysia, in Dublin, Brian Kerr was preparing a team for the World Youth Championships. Only in the job a number of months, Kerr barely had a moment to himself.
“At the time, FIFA’s cut off date for the age groups was January and UEFA’s was September. I only had a number of months to make one team out of two age groups for Malaysia and I was also in charge of two other teams.
“It was a very busy time and I didn’t even know about Jonathan’s Irish roots. I only found out that later, but since then, I think we’ve found more of the Irish lads than we’ve missed.”
Both Ireland and England travelled to the World Youth Championships – Ireland eventually finishing third in the tournament while England crashed out in the last 16 with Macken making a solitary 28 minute appearance as substitute in their clash with the United Arab Emirates.
It was to be Macken’s only appearance in an England shirt though it stopped him ever declaring for another country.
The 26-year-old was to rue his decision over the next number of years as he earned a reputation as a devastating striker with Preston that earned him a Stg5 million move to Manchester City in 2002.
At City, Macken had other worries on his mind as injuries meant that his career with the Citizens suffered a number of false starts. However, last season, given a run in the team, he began to show why manager Kevin Keegan was willing to spend so much on him as he was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise struggling City team.
At the same time, news of a new FIFA ruling filtered through which meant that Macken could switch nationality if he could produce the right paper work. Kerr also knew about the rule and was keen to see where there any players interested in being a test case.
However, he had a number of stipulations. “Firstly, we were only interested in players as good, or better, than those we already had and secondly, the player had to show they were committed to us,” said Kerr.
“It is well known that we sometimes lack in the front positions and from speaking to Jonathan, I knew he was desperate to play for us.”
Over the summer, Macken, with the help of the FAI, sought all the required documentation and made a case to FIFA to change nationality. The switch was rubber stamped by FIFA last week and Macken was immediately called into the squad for this week’s friendly with Bulgaria.
And now, having waited so long for his chance, the striker is eager to make it count. “I’ve waited a long time for this and now I want to prove I deserve a place in the side. It’s a very special occasion for me and for my family. They are all delighted. My grandfather passed away during the summer and it’s a shame he’s not here to see it though I know he’d be very proud that I am representing Ireland.”
Taken from FAI.ie Monday 16th August 2004