Tom Flanagan is called up for the Northern Ireland under-21 team ahead of match against Stuart Pearce's England
Tom Flanagan in action recently against
Aldershot Picture: Barry
Goodwin
by Luke Cawdell
Gillingham boss Martin Allen was thrilled to
see on-loan defender Tom Flanagan gain international
recognition.
The 20-year-old defender, on loan from League
1 MK Dons, has been selected for Northern Ireland’s under-21 squad
ahead of next week’s friendly match with England at Blackpool’s
Bloomfield Road.
“It is a fantastic achievement,” said Allen,
on the defender who joined the Gills at the start of the season in
a deal that is set to expire at the end of this year.
“I know he is an MK Dons player but he’s been
playing here and to have an under-21 international is a fantastic
achievement for the club. All the players gave him a standing
ovation in the dressing room (on Tuesday night). It is good news
and I am really pleased for him.”
Flanagan,
born in England but with Northern Irish ancestry, missed the
weekend game against Scunthorpe with a thigh injury but was back on
the bench in midweek, for the league match against Cheltenham.
Allen said: “He trained for the first time on
Monday, after about 10 days off, and Tom is now fit and well. I
thought it was probably a bit too early to bring him back.”
What do you make of Flanagan's call-up and what have you
made of his performances with the Gills? Comment
below.
07/11/12
- Click here for more news from across the county...