CAOIMHÍN KELLEHER has been told to enjoy his football until the end of the season and then worry about his future.
John O’Shea handed the Corkman a vote of confidence by picking him in goal against Belgium on Saturday.
Kelleher had put himself in pole position to get the nod ahead of Gavin Bazunu after starting the last 10 games for Liverpool.
O’Shea is likely to rotate against Switzerland tomorrow with Bazunu expected to start, whilst Mark Travers may also be given a runout off the bench.
He said: “We’ll wait and see, there’s every chance he will but I won’t be confirming anything about the team.”
But Kelleher’s long-term Ireland ambitions will depend on whether he stays at Anfield – where he usually plays second-fiddle to the currently injured Alisson– or opts to leave.
Ireland interim boss O’Shea said: “Look, he’s doing OK for everyone at the minute. Let him focus on that in the summer. He’s got a big end to the season.
“A big game potentially coming up for Ireland, we’ll see on Tuesday, we’ll see what team is selected and then he’s potentially got a big end to the season as well for Liverpool.
“Ultimately, any player, you must want to get playing, you know what I mean, whether you’re a keeper, defender, midfielder, attacker, the key thing is to be playing.
“And I’m sure that’s what every Ireland fan wants, when you see lads playing at a competitive level, in the team very week, it’s really pleasing because you know ultimately it benefits the Ireland team.
“It’s a great issue for any manager to have, to have to pick between very good players.”
For tomorrow’s game, O’Shea’s hand will be strengthened by the additions of Joe Hodge and Andy Moran, who helped Ireland’s Under-21s to a 7-0 win over San Marino on Friday.
And the 42-year-old confirmed there would be changes to his team but insisted they would not be at the behest of club managers.
He said: “There’s every chance we can freshen up and that’s what we’ll discuss.
“There are good options for us to rotate a good bit, bring that freshness and intensity because it’s that stage of the season too for clubs.
“I’m focusing on Ireland first and foremost, don’t get me wrong, but it’s an appreciation of what lads have gone through this season as well.
“There’ll be a couple of tweaks definitely, the buy-in and the intensity I’ve got from the lads and the closeness too of some of the decisions in the selection for Saturday’s game would lead to some more tough decisions for Tuesday as well.”