Villa starlet Lowry snubs Ireland for Australia

Aston Villa starlet Shane Lowry has pledged his international allegiance to Australia despite having represented the Republic of Ireland at under-19 and under-21 level.

Lowry, who was born in Perth to Irish parents, advised the Football Assocation of Ireland of his decision to turn his back on his adopted nation this week.

The move, which echoes the decision made by Middlesbrough’s Rhys Williams earlier this year, paves the way for 20-year-old Lowry to represent the Socceroos at next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

“The decision is entirely up to the player,” said an FAI spokesman. “He is eligible for both countries and it’s perfectly within the rules.

“Players have gone the other way in the past and declared for us. So it’s a case that we’ve benefited from it in the past but this time unfortunately the player has decided to go elsewhere. It’s his decision and we respect it.”

Lowry made his sole appearance for the Republic of Ireland under-21s side in the 1-1 draw against Germany in February.

But he had since been a regular squad member and was called into the 18-man squad for Wednesday’s European Under-21 Championship qualifying trip to Estonia before withdrawing on the eve of the game.

The central defender was previously a regular for the under-19s and even faced Australia while representing Ireland’s under-23s at the Intercontinental Cup in Malaysia last year.

He has also played twice for Premier League club Aston Villa this season, featuring in both legs of the Europa League playoff defeat against Rapid Vienna.

Lowry’s decision follows hot on the heels of Williams’ controversial switch of allegiances in May.

Perth-born Williams was capped 10 times by Wales at under-21 level but elected to pursue his senior international career with Australia after expressing his desire to play for the Socceroos to coach Pim Verbeek.

FIFA regulations state players can change allegiance up until the age of 21 unless already capped at full national team level.

The defender has since twice played for Verbeek’s side and looks destined for a World Cup berth after demonstrating his versatility by operating in midfield for Middlesbrough this season.

Lowry will be aware that Verbeek is not blessed with a deep supply of top-class centre halves, especially after watching a makeshift back four missing captain Lucas Neill, Craig Moore, Luke Wilkshire and Scott Chipperfield brutally exposed in Australia’s midweek defeat to South Korea.

Verbeek teamed Patrick Kisnorbo with Mark Milligan in central defence against the Koreans, but defensive lapses in the opening half-hour played a key role in the 3-1 loss.

Kisnorbo has only just returned from a two-year international exile after displaying strong early season form at Leeds in League One – England’s third tier.

Milligan plays for Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese Super League while AaB’s Michael Beauchamp and Nurnberg’s Matthew Spiranovic were on the bench.

Lowry will have to apply to FIFA to officially change his nationality, but the move is thought to be a formality.