THIS WAS INEVITABLE. Now that he has started being a professional footballer again, Stephen Ireland has left the tiniest of clues that he may be prepared to return to the Republic of Ireland fold.
The 25-year-old has recently regained his place in the Aston Villa side and has set about repairing his relationship with the Birmingham club’s supporters.
With the European Championships set to take place next summer, the Cobh man says that he ‘will see’ about representing the country of his birth for the first time since leaving in controversial circumstances in 2007.
However, he doesn’t hold out much hope of getting a call from Giovanni Trapattoni.
“I’ve not been approached,” he told The Guardian.
“It’s not really a question I have to answer because it’s not a question that has come to me. I’ll see when it comes to me. It’s not something I think about. It’s not frustrating, no. I’ve not been playing for so long [with Ireland] that I’m not missing it. I’m just going to concentrate on my club football.”
While Ireland’s failure to reproduce the form that made him one of the Premier League’s most coveted young midfielders while at Manchester City resulted in an unsuccessful loan move to Newcastle a year ago, he has now started to hear the Villa fans chanting his name.
“It’s one of the targets I’ve set, to get on better with the fans,” Ireland added. “It’s nice when they sing your name. I’ve not had the greatest of relationships with them but I’ve not had a consistent run in the team. It’s been frustrating but I seem to be playing now and I’m pleased.”
What do you think?
