ANTHONY PILKINGTON is set to play for the Republic of Ireland in February.
The ex-Town winger, who has made one Under 21 appearance, has been in fine form for Norwich this season, and was watched by Marco Tardelli, Republic coach Giovanni Trapattoni’s right-hand man, as he scored one goal and made the other in Norwich’s 2-1 Premier League win over Wigan at Carrow Road on Saturday.
It’s the third home game running in which the 24-year-old has scored and the Canaries, who signed him from Town in a potential £3m deal during the 2011 close-season, are seventh.
Now Blackburn-born Pilkington, who played 107 times and netted 25 goals for Town after joining from Stockport in January 2009, is in line to face Poland in an international friendly in Dublin on February 6.
Trapattoni said: “I can say with certainty that he is very interested to play for us. We might be able to see him in early February.”
Pilkington, whose Town appearances were curtailed by a broken leg and dislocated ankle suffered in March 2011, said: “I have had a call from the Republic and they are now starting to sort out all the paperwork. That’s where we are at the moment.
“I am definitely eligible because my grandmother comes from Dublin. I would be more than happy to play for them, if I am selected.”
Pilkington made his sole Republic Under 21 outing in Lithuania in 2008, the same year he was a Wembley play-off winner with Stockport, who beat Rochdale 3-2 in the League II final.
He was a slow starter in the professional game, having spent time in the youth systems of Preston, Manchester United and Blackburn before playing non-league football for Atherton Collieries, from where Stockport recruited him in December 2006.
Pilkington’s boss at Norwich, Chris Hughton, made 53 appearances for the Republic and said: “He’s yet to be selected, but I’m always delighted for any player to be involved at international level and I think it enhances their career.”
