Steven Davis’ international retirement depends on Rangers role – Michael O’Neill
Rangers’ new interim boss Steven Davis has not played since December due to a knee injury (Jeff Holmes/PA)
Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill said Steven Davis needs more time to decide whether to call time on his record-breaking international career.
Davis, who was placed in temporary charge of Rangers on Sunday after they sacked manager Michael Beale, has not played since December due to a knee injury.
O’Neill does not think the 38-year-old midfielder, who is the most capped British men’s player with 140 Northern Ireland appearances, would be able to resume his playing career if he is still in charge at Ibrox.
Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill says Steven Davis could soon have a decision to make on his playing career (Zac Goodwin/PA)
“He can’t do both,” said O’Neill, who on Wednesday named his squad for the Euro 2024 qualifiers against San Marino and Slovenia on October 14 and 17 respectively.
“He can’t be a player-manager at Rangers, it’s just not do-able that and Steven would know that.
“The days of that type of dual role are long gone. So it will be determined by how long he’s in that position.
“Then the player will have a decision to make based on the situation at Rangers from a management point of view and his injury situation in terms of getting back from the injury.
“So those are all things for Steven and those are discussions which don’t need to happen now, he’s got enough on his plate really in the next three or four days. I’ll get a chat with him over the international break.
“So he’ll probably get a little bit of time when his feet can touch the ground and then we can discuss all of that in more detail.”
Davis will take charge of Rangers for the first time in Thursday’s Europa League game in Cyprus
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