Tommy Fogarty on Northern Ireland and missing East Fife

The on-loan centre back, who recently completed a season-long move from Birmingham City, will be absent for Saturday's SPFL Trust Trophy third round tie at East Fife due to international commitments.

Capped six times by Northern Ireland at under-21 level, he's making the short hop across the Irish Sea for 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers with England, which takes place tomorrow (Friday), and Ukraine, which will be played on Tuesday.

Fogarty, who joked that new team-mate Lewis McCann, who has also represented the 'Green and White Army' at youth level, had introduced himself as a "Northern Ireland legend", will be back in contention for Dunfermline's league clash with Raith Rovers on Friday September 13.

"I’ve been playing with the Northern Ireland Under-21s for the last year. We’ve got a camp coming up, against England and Ukraine," he said.

"That’s also really good exposure and gives me really good challenges. Hopefully that can improve me.

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"I’m hoping for a good season on that front as well.

"I’ve heard good things about the derby, so it’ll be two tough games when I’m over there, and then a tough game when I’m back as well, but I feel ready for it."

Tommy Fogarty has won six Northern Ireland under-21 caps. (Image: Craig Brown.)

The Birmingham youth product's current boss at international level is Tommy Wright, who previously managed St Johnstone, whom he guided to Scottish Cup glory in 2014.

Pars boss, James McPake, who was also capped by Northern Ireland during his playing career, received a glowing report from Wright about Fogarty, who revealed he has also represented the Republic of Ireland as a youth player.

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However, he said that the influence of Gareth McAuley, who turned out for clubs including West Bromwich Albion and Leicester City, helped him decide to play for Northern Ireland.

"I’ve got both sides of Ireland in my blood," he explained.

"I played with the Republic from 15 until I was 18, and since then I’ve been over with the North. That’s been really good as well.

"You’re not actually tied in until you’re a senior, but Northern Ireland’s definitely been really good for me in the last few years.

"I knew I was being watched by them for for a while. Gareth was a big factor - he watched a few of my club games.

"The under-19s manager really wanted me in and, being an ex-Premier League centre-back himself, that really helped my decision.

"I’ve really enjoyed it."

Referring to his conversations with Wright, McPake added: "Tommy's obviously had him in a few international squads and spoken very highly of him.

"I think a few Scottish clubs had asked Tommy about him and the reference was glowing.

"He's in their squad for two games, against Ukraine and England, so we wish him well.

"Tommy was very complimentary about him. He's obviously experienced Scottish football, he was extremely successful up here when he was at St Johnstone, and he's obviously now the under-21 manager with Northern Ireland.

"He was great and a good help in helping us get the deal done."