Owen Elding hopes Conference League mission boosts him into Republic squad

Owen Elding is on a mission to fire Hibernian a step closer to the Conference League and bolster his prospects of being included in the Republic of Ireland squad for their Nations League matches in the autumn.

The England-born 20-year-old is eligible for the Republic on the grounds of residency and is waiting to receive his Irish passport after going through a protracted citizenship process.

Elding trained with Heimir Hallgrimsson’s team during their camp at the end of last season and is hopeful of earning a first proper call-up next month for their Nations League matches against Kosovo, Israel and Austria.

“Obviously, I’m just waiting on the passport to come now, so, yeah, we’re nearly there,” he said ahead of the first leg of Hibs’ Conference League third qualifying round tie at home to North Macedonian side Shkendija.

“But obviously, it’s only what I do with club football that will determine if I’m in those squads or not. Starting again tomorrow, I need to put in a good performance and keep pushing on.

“Getting that experience in the first-team international set-up in the summer was massive. Just being around the boys for the camp – I obviously wasn’t able to play the games (against Qatar and Canada) – I was just getting that taste and seeing what it’s like, and it’s something I want to be a part of.”

Elding got his first taste of European football in the last round against Kosovan side Malisheva, where he scored in the second leg of Hibs’ 4-3 aggregate triumph.

The former Sligo forward is eager to help his team earn group-stage football for the first time in their history, with IFK Gothenburg or Gent awaiting them in the play-off round if they can get past Shkendija.

“Obviously, the biggest stage you can play in club football is the European stage,” said Elding. “Everyone dreams as a kid to play in those competitions and tomorrow’s the next step towards where we want to be.”

Hibs boss David Gray hopes to have summer signing Callum Wright in the squad after injury, but Joe Newell, Nicky Cadden and Jamie McGrath are likely to miss out against a Shkendija side who reached the knockout phase play-off round of last season’s Conference League.

“We’re playing against a side that’s been in Europe for a few years now, established and did really well in the competition last season,” said the manager.

“And they’ve brought some players in off the back of the success they had last season.

“I’m not belittling the previous opponents in the last round, but we know it’s going to be a step up in quality.

We’re going in the right direction in terms of physicality now as well, with more competitive games into the legs of players, but it will be a difficult test.”