Jamie Carragher breaks silence after son makes international debut following England switch

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has expressed his pride after James Carragher, his 22-year-old son, made his much-anticipated international debut after switching allegiance.

Earlier this month, James Carragher earned a call-up to play for Malta ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Finland and Poland.

The 22-year-old, who plays for League One side Wigan Athletic, was recently awarded Maltese citizenship alongside his dad, with the pair qualifying through Jamie's grandfather, Paul Vassallo, and his mother, Paula.

After their newfound Maltese citizenship was confirmed, Malta Football Association president Bjorn Vassallo confirmed that the MFA had opened talks with the family regarding a potential call-up.

“We’ve been in talks with James and his father Jamie for the last few months now," he said, before adding: “We will not shy from signing players internationally. Everyone is doing it, so why not us?”

A few weeks later, James joined up with Emilio De Leo's side and on Friday evening, he started for Malta in their World Cup qualifying clash against Finland – a game they went on to lose 1-0.

Taking to Instagram after the final whistle, former England international Jamie Carragher reacted to his son's senior international debut after watching on from the stands.

"Very proud of [James] on your international debut," he wrote on his Instagram story, alongside a picture of the pair. "Didn’t deserve the loss, son.”

James will likely feature again on Monday night, when Malta come up against the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Matty Cash as they face Poland in another World Cup qualifier.

James Carragher after making his Malta debut. Image credit: Instagram/23_carra

With 38 caps to his name for England, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher represented the Three Lions between 1999 and 2010.

Last year, on an episode of Stick To Football, brought to you by Sky Bet, Carragher recalled the moment he knew his England career was over.

"The first game that England played in the new Wembley was against Brazil. All week in training I was in centre-back," he said. "Rio must’ve been out, so I was thinking to myself that I just played in the Champions League final, Liverpool’s player of the year.

"However, they get to the Friday and then I’m playing right-back suddenly and someone else was in centre-back. They played the game and, on the way, home in the car, I knew that I was done with England.

"We still had another game midweek, so we went home for the night and came back. But I knew I didn’t want to play anymore on that journey back.

"I came back for the second game, and then I wasn’t even right-back, it was Wes Brown instead which was fine but that’s when I was done.

"Steve McClaren came to me and said that he would play me the next game. I told him not to because it would feel fake, and I didn’t want that. If I’m being totally honest, I didn’t love being away.

"I was probably aged 29 then and I thought that if I’m not going away with England and I get myself ready for Liverpool, I can win that fight and finish my career at Liverpool. That was the biggest thing for me, to just stay at Liverpool."