In-form Celtic midfielder Kris Commons has won a Scotland recall after Robert Snodgrass and Jordan Rhodes pulled out of the squad to face Wales and Belgium.

Marc Wilson is primed to surpass the century mark of Premier League appearances this month yet it’s his international drought that has him most puzzled.

Giovanni Trapattoni has asked Marc Wilson to replace Kevin Foley on Ireland’s Euro 2012 standby list.

Glenn Whelan believes too much expectation is being heaped on James McClean’s young and inexperienced shoulders ahead of the Republic of Ireland’s appearance in next month’s European Championships.

Liam Lawrence insists his exclusion from the Republic of Ireland’s squad for last week’s friendly against the Czech Republic hasn’t dampened his Euro 2012 hopes.

Robbie Keane, Richard Dunne and Keith Andrews have been nominated for the Senior International Player of the Year Award at this Sunday’s 3 FAI International Awards.

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI will fly from Dublin to London today to see Irish football’s latest headline-grabbing discovery in action.

THE Carling Nations Cup looks to be definitively dead, with FAI sources indicating they have no will to push for a second staging of the competition.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) have moved to clarify a reported dispute between them and the Scottish Football Association (SFA) regarding the Scots' participation fee for the Carling Nations Cup.

Liverpool forward Craig Bellamy has pulled out of the squad for this afternoon’s match at home to Manchester City after hearing of the death of Gary Speed.

FOR a player with such a promising future, James McCarthy has been haunted by his recent past with Ireland but the midfielder last night sought to leave all that behind by insisting his relationship with Giovanni Trapattoni is just fine and dandy.

DON’T ask me how — I can’t remember — but I read once about the prevalence of crashes amongst Korean airlines and how aviation authorities cut them out.*

AS the Irish squad trained yesterday for the firsttime at the start of what Giovanni Trapattonicalled the “the most important week of the qualifying campaign” it was clear that the manager was not leaving anything to chance on or off the pitch.

THE Republic of Ireland will be among the third seeds for the 2014 FIFA World Cup draw in Brazil on Saturday night. The seedings are based on FIFA’s July ranking of national teams, published yesterday, in which Giovanni Trapattoni’s men fell two places to 33rd.

ANTHONY STOKES has admitted he has little chance of forcing his way back into the Republic of Ireland squad for September’s Euro 2012 ties against Slovakia and Russia.

Anthony Stokes has credited manager Neil Lennon with helping him adjust to the rigours of playing for Celtic.

Rangers striker David Healy has been recalled to the Northern Ireland squad for next month’s Euro 2012 qualifier against the Faroe Islands, with uncapped Derry City forward James McClean also in Nigel Worthington’s 23-man group.

Mark Wilson put his Scotland career on hold due to fatigue and may now have to do it again for his family.

FAI chief executive John Delaney has defended his €400,000 salary, after he confirmed to the Association’s AGM in Ennis that he had taken voluntary reductions amounting to €50,000 in the last 12 months.

BEFORE we get to what he’ll be saying at today’s FAI AGM, it’s worth starting with where they’re having that annual meeting because it’s something of a statement too.

James McCarthy is back in the Republic of Ireland squad for next month’s friendly against Croatia.

West Brom striker Simon Cox has vowed to make a major impact at both club and international level next season after a thrilling end to the current campaign.

Stephen Hunt is confident the Republic of Ireland’s unbeaten end to the season will spur the team on to greater things when hostilities are resumed.

Giovanni Trapattoni challenged his Republic of Ireland players to take their impressive form into their remaining Euro 2012 qualifiers after seeing them claim a famous victory over Italy.

KEITH ANDREWS left Liege last night with the Man of the Match award after his wonder goal against the Italians but, like Robbie Keane before him last Saturday, collective glory was more important than individual honour.

Keith Andrews believes the Republic of Ireland demonstrated how far they have progressed after he scored the opening goal in his side’s 2-0 friendly victory over Italy in Liege.

David Forde will reap the rewards of never giving up on his dream when he starts his first game for the Ireland tonight.

Kevin Doyle insists he will be fully fit for pre-season training with Wolves at the start of July.

SIX games down, four to go and still sharing top spot in European Championship Group B — but Giovanni Trapattoni has warned that the stakes only get higher for his Irish team from here on in.

Republic of Ireland skipper Robbie Keane tonight became the first British or Irish player to reach 50 senior international goals as he scored twice against Macedonia.

Skipper Robbie Keane led the Republic of Ireland into Euro 2012 battle in Macedonia after shaking off his groin injury.

Goalkeeper Shay Given admits it would ruin his summer if the Republic of Ireland leave Macedonia without three precious Euro 2012 qualifying points tonight.

A BIBLICAL cloudburst drenched the national stadium here in Skopje yesterday afternoon, but there were no comparable dramatics indoors at the arena as Giovanni Trapattoni and Robbie Keane faced the mics and cameras for Ireland’s eve-of-match press conference.

After 15 years of highs and lows, Shay Given is still passionate about playing for his country, Liam Mackey reports

Republic of Ireland skipper Robbie Keane will put his body on the line for his country tomorrow night after admitting he has barely been injury-free since he was a teenager.

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni is confident skipper Robbie Keane will be able to start tomorrow night’s Euro 2012 qualifier in Macedonia.

THERE will be more than a football match on the horizon when Giovanni Trapattoni lands with his Ireland team in an airport named after Alexander The Great just outside Skopje tonight.

PAUL McSHANE is back in the frame for a first competitive start for Ireland since a certain game which, try as we all might, he and the country can’t ever forget.

Stephen Hunt has urged his Republic of Ireland team-mates to grasp the chance to become national heroes by qualifying for Euro 2012.

Darron Gibson is out of the Republic of Ireland's trip to Macedonia for Saturday's Euro 2012 qualifier

DARREN O’DEA has declared himself fit for the fray in Skopje on Saturday.

DARRON GIBSON has become the latest player to withdraw from an ever-diminishing Ireland squad for Saturday’s Euro 2012 qualifier in Skopje, having notified the management team that he will be unavailable with a groin problem.

Darren O’Dea admits he may have no option but to quit Celtic in a bid to boost his international aspirations.

Stephen Hunt believes the Republic of Ireland’s “tasty” encounter with Scotland was the ideal preparation for their crucial clash in Macedonia.