Former Town striker David Johnson is once again being targeted by the Northern Ireland international side. Back in 1999 Johnson was approached by the Ulstermen and subsequently almost played for Wales and then Scotland.

The Nottingham Forest top scorer has played international football for both England and Jamaica, at U21 and B level for the English and at full level for the Reggae Boyz, but only in friendlies which don't commit a player to one nation.

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, the striker holds a British passport which it was thought meant he could play for any of the four home countries.

With then England boss Kevin Keegan stating he wasn't going to give him a full cap, the other three UK countries became interested. Wales looked to be front-runners and Johnson seemed set for the land of the valleys.

However, when Craig Brown and Scotland came calling the land of John Wark, Alan Brazil and George Burley looked more attractive.

But, in what TWTD at the time called "a sensational development", on the day he was expected to be named in the Scotland squad, it was announced that Johnson was in fact ineligible for any countries other than England and Jamaica due to his late mother having been born in England.

It transpired that under a 1993 agreement between FIFA and the UK football associations, four criteria for a player's qualification for a national team have to be met.

This agreement stated: "Where the player, both natural parents, and both natural grandparents are born outside the UK, but the player is the holder of a current British passport, he may play for the country of his choice."

With Johnson's mother coming from England it appeared he was not in fact able to choose his nation.

There were suggestions some while after the furore that one or other associations may choose to ignore the agreement but until now there has been no suggestion that the Forest striker may resume his colourful international career.

However, Northern Ireland manager Sammy McIlroy, whose side haven't scored for a year, says he is keen to make Johnson an Ulsterman: “He has not turned us down yet, so I am taking that as a positive sign. He is a player I would like in my squad but it will be his call.”

Further intrigue was added to the story back in 1999 when a report claimed yardies would kill Johnson if he ever returned to Jamaica. He was accused of showing a lack of respect for their nation.

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