NEWCASTLE UNITED MANAGER Alan Pardew says Stephen Ireland and Leon Best will be disciplined for visiting a Tyneside nightclub the night before a game.
The Irish duo apologised yesterday after a photograph of the pair – along with Galway-born reserve-team player Stephen Folan – was published on the Tup Tup Palace’s Facebook site. The trio visited the city centre club on Friday.
The Magpies lost 4-0 to Stoke on Saturday and though Ireland and Best were both injured and not obliged to travel, they were nevertheless in breach of a club rule. Today Pardew insists the matter will be dealt with.
“All I want to say on that is that as Leon Best has travelled with Ireland, we’ve not faced each other yet,” says Pardew in today’s Newcastle Evening Chronicle.
“There will be discipline involved, for sure, but I want to see all three together in my office before I say anything more.”
Exiled from the Boys in Green camp, of course, Stephen Ireland is not in Dublin this week ahead of the Macedonia clash. He is expected to make his debut for the Magpies against Mick McCarthy’s Wolves however.
He has been dogged by injuries since joining on loan from Aston Villa – but St James’ Park officials expect the Cobh native to start his first game after the international break. Assistant boss John Carver revealed to the same newspaper that hopes are high, Ireland will be in contention for the April 2 showdown.
“Stephen Ireland will resume full training on Monday – he will join in with the group then and get a good week of training before Wolves, so we’re hopeful there,” he said.
Read more in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle | Ireland hopefuls need to make a choice, says Liam Lawrence
