Tottenham Hotspur hotshot: ‘My dad’s been pestering me my whole life to play for Northern Ireland’

The 20-year-old Antrim born Spurs player received a warm welcome from the Windsor Park crowd on Friday coming on for his senior international debut as a second half substitute against Switzerland in the 1-1 draw, almost winning the friendly late on with a smart header only for visiting goalkeeper Gregor Kobel to make a sharp save.

It’s been a whirlwind week for Donley. Last Sunday the Belfast Telegraph revealed he had been called into the Northern Ireland squad and had started his international transfer from England.

Donley had previously played for both Northern Ireland and England at youth level with his most recent appearances for the latter – then Michael O’Neill phoned his dad last year and so began a process that led to the attacker completing his FIFA international transfer and coming on for the country of his birth versus the Swiss with hopefully a second cap to come on Tuesday in Sweden.

The Donley family moved to England when Jamie was young. His dad is from Northern Ireland and his mum is from London and he joked that she was ‘not happy’ at him switching from the Three Lions to the Green and White Army.

“My dad’s been pestering me my whole life to play for Northern Ireland and Michael (O’Neill) was in touch for quite a while about coming over and playing for him,” explained Donley.

I think it’s the right time in my career to make the change and I’m delighted I’ve done it. Hopefully it’s the right decision.