Fortune urges South Africa to pursue in-form Wanderers defender Max Conway

Quinton Fortune believes South Africa should make a serious approach for Wanderers left-back Max Conway after his impressive start to the Championship season.

The former Premier League star wants the Bafana Bafana to widen their search across the United Kingdom and Europe for players who may be eligible to obtain South African citizenship and represent the national team.

Conway was born in Manchester, but his maternal grandmother was born in Pretoria. The 20-year-old defender has indicated that he would be interested in exploring the possibility of representing South Africa in the future.

Fortune, who spent a short period with Wanderers during the club’s successful Premier League era under Sam Allardyce, is strongly in favour of the national team pursuing Conway. He is best known, however, for his many years with Manchester United.

“South Africa should go and get him, 20 million per cent!” Fortune said.

“My God. If there is a player eligible for South Africa, whether he is English, Scottish or Irish, they should look at the Irish team and what they have achieved.”

Fortune’s comments come after Conway’s strong opening to the Championship campaign, which has brought increased attention to his potential international future.

The former South Africa international believes the country should be more proactive in identifying eligible players based in Britain and elsewhere in Europe, rather than limiting its recruitment to those playing domestically.

Conway’s family connection to Pretoria provides a possible route to South African eligibility, while his expressed interest means the defender could be open to a future approach from the Bafana Bafana.