Martin O’Neill admits he would have been powerless to prevent Harry Arter defecting to England - and the Republic of Ireland boss will have to wait until 2017 before in-form Brentford striker Scott Hogan declares his allegiance.
There were suggestions this week that Bournemouth midfielder Arter - who has made three friendly appearances for Ireland - was considering his international future.
However, the 26-year-old - currently sidelined with a hamstring injury - remains committed to Ireland and could now make his competitive debut when they travel to Austria for a World Cup qualifier next month.
O’Neill lost former Ireland Under-21 winger Jack Grealish to England last year and he concedes there is nothing he could have done had Arter wanted to switch to the country of his birth.