First Northern Ireland call up will be a proud moment for Belfast-born Ross County striker Ronan Hale, says Staggies boss Don Cowie
Ross County manager Don Cowie has reminded striker Ronan Hale that the hard work starts again now after the 26-year-old received his first call-up to the Northern Ireland squad.
Despite being born in Belfast, Hale would represent the Republic of Ireland at youth level, scoring a combined five goals in 12 appearances for the Irish age groups.
However, a run at senior international level never materialised with the Republic of Ireland.
Hale’s prolific form in recent years with Belfast-based Cliftonville, through, raised speculation over a potential switch to represent Northern Ireland.
Just before the striker moved to Ross County last summer, international boss Michael O’Neill suggested Hale would be in line for a call-up if he did switch allegiances, but a lengthy delay to ratify the paperwork has meant it only became possible for the upcoming international window next week.
It will be a proud moment for Hale as he links up with the Northern Irish squad ahead of the team’s friendlies against Switzerland and Sweden, but Don Cowie believes this may only be the beginning Hale’s international story.
“I think it’s huge for him, and a very proud moment for Ronan and his family,” Cowie said.
“We spoke about it with him when we were trying to recruit him, it was about him taking the next step in his career to get into the international set-up.
“He’s had to be really patient with getting that paperwork, but now that he has it you can see he has a real buzz about him, and he has a real spring in his step.
“That’s only natural when you achieve something as big as he has to get into the national squad.
“It’s huge, but the hard work comes even now because he has to try and get into that squad on a regular basis.”
Although having been on the receiving end of some criticism from Cowie in recent months, Hale is Ross County’s top scorer this season – scoring eight in the Premiership and 12 across all competitions.
Cowie insists his past comments are only designed to help Hale improve, and says he has been largely impressed by how the forward has adapted both to Scottish and full-time football.
“The exciting thing for me is that there is so much more to come from Ronan,” Cowie stressed.
“We always believed we were signing a goalscorer who can be really clinical, and I think he has shown that this season when he has had opportunities.
“It’s my job and the staff’s job to help him improve even more, but sometimes we need to take a step back and realise he has come from part-time football into a full time environment.
“What is really pleasing for me is how durable he has been. He has been on the training ground and been available for selection for pretty much every game, which shows we have managed him really well and also that he has embraced the environment he is in.”
