Hibernian striker Owen Elding is positioning himself to make his international debut with the Republic of Ireland, viewing his performances in European competition as a crucial step toward that goal. The 20-year-old forward, born in England but raised in Ireland after his father signed for Sligo Rovers, recently trained with the Irish squad ahead of their friendlies against Qatar and Canada. However, Elding was unable to participate in those matches due to delays in obtaining his Irish passport.
Elding joined Hibernian in January from Sligo Rovers and is now focused on helping the team advance in the UEFA Conference League. Hibs face North Macedonian side Shkendija in the third qualifying round first leg at Easter Road. Elding emphasized the importance of European football for his development, saying it represents the highest club competition stage and a platform to showcase his abilities to national team selectors.
The striker admitted that finalizing his switch to Ireland involved bureaucratic hurdles, including a delayed citizenship ceremony early in the year. He expressed optimism that the process is nearing completion, allowing him to fully commit to the national team setup under manager Heimir Hallgrimsson.
Elding’s recent form at club level is pivotal to securing a spot in Ireland’s upcoming Nations League fixtures against Kosovo and Israel. While acknowledging that only his club performances will determine his inclusion, Elding recalled the encouragement from the Irish manager to be himself during his initial exposure to the squad.
Since arriving at Hibernian, Elding has seen notable progression, scoring three goals in the latter half of last season and netting his first goal of the current campaign during a 4-1 victory over Malisheva in the Conference League qualifiers. He credited head coach David Gray and the club’s coaching staff for his development, alongside the influence of experienced teammates such as Martin Boyle, who remains a consistent goal threat in Europe.
Operating in a forward line alongside Boyle and Nathan Lowe, Elding highlighted the growing cohesion among the trio. He noted that while their first outing together in Kosovo showed signs of adjustment, their subsequent home performance at Easter Road demonstrated significant improvement, with multiple scoring opportunities created and goals from all three forwards.
As Hibernian prepare for their European challenge, Elding’s ambition to break into the international scene remains a driving force behind his performances.