Elebert joins Irish for Malaysian tour

May 15 2008

DAVID Elebert capped a fantastic season at Hamilton by earning a call-up to the Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad last week, and admitted he thought his chance had gone.

Accies defender Elebert (22), qualifies because he was still aged 21 on the January 1 cut-off date, and joins the Irish squad for a tournament in Malaysia, where he may face the under-23 side of Iraq today, Nigeria on Saturday and Malaysia on Monday.

The other group in the tournament is comprised of Croatia, Ghana, Argentina and Australia.

Speaking from Malaysia, David said: “I’m delighted — it’s been a few years since my last cap and I’m really happy to get the chance again.

“I have set targets every season since I signed for Hamilton but I wasn’t expecting this. I thought I was past being able to play for the Under-21s. However, I got a call on Thursday from Don Givens and I was over the moon.

“It’s a brilliant way to end the season. Winning the league was massive, and to kick on from there is fantastic.”

Elebert also signed a one-year contract extension, keeping him at the club until 2010.

And he added: “I’m in Malaysia and haven’t signed yet, but I will be back in June and I will sign then.”

Dublin-born Elebert says it still hasn’t sunk in properly that Hamilton are champions, and admitted: “It probably won’t (sink in) until pre-season when we get in and see our names on the kit.

“We’ve proved to everybody that we’re good enough to play in the SPL because we won the league this season.

“Going up as champions is magnificent, but we’re going to have to look after ourselves over the summer and come back fully fit, because it’s a higher standard next season.

“We’re going to be able to test ourselves against the top teams in Scotland, like Celtic and Rangers, but also teams that are more on a par with us.

“We’re also going to get derby matches against Motherwell, and that adds a bit of spice to any fixture, so it will be good to play in those.

“You get little teams in the First Division like Stirling, and no disrespect to them, but they’re not going to give you an awful lot of a challenge.

“Next season it’s going to be a challenge every week, and everybody’s going to have to be on their mettle week in, week out, to even give us a chance of staying up, let alone securing a mid-table place. But it’s going to be good.”

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