Rangers starlet emerges as top target between 2 top European countries

Rangers development squad left-back Matthew Shiels has been rewarded for his fine campaign this term with an international call up to both the Republic of Ireland and Scotland under-19’s sides.

The 17-year-old has already played for the former at under-18 level last November, and did express his delight on Twitter for the recent call up yesterday.

However, Scotland also named Shiels in their Donald Park-managed side later in the day.

The Scottish-born teenage sensation is eligible to represent Republic of Ireland due to his ancestry, and he has been left to make a huge decision that could have a big say on the rest of his international career.

Shiels plays dominantly at the back for Rangers development squad, but has often featured upfront, and both Scotland and Republic of Ireland seem to know which position is best for him.

His country of birth reckon he’s a left-back and have named him as one on their list, but Ireland – his grandparents’ country of birth – believe he’s best deployed as a striker.

Shiels scored the equalizer in an eventual 2-1 loss to Celtic in last year’s Glasgow Cup final, and is seen as a future star for Rangers.