The prospects of Stephen Ireland returning to the international fold would appear to have improved further after the player’s immediate future at club level was settled.

IT’S one thing for Fabio Capello to lose Wayne Bridge. But his bigger worry should be that he has lost John Terry as well.

STEPHEN HUNT has said that he would like to see Stephen Ireland back in the international fold, but he has also criticised the Cobh man for “letting the side down” when he left the Irish camp in controversial circumstances after last year’s World Cup qualifier in Slovakia.

STEPHEN IRELAND might still be on a self-imposed exile from international football but that hasn’t stopped him being nominated for a Young Player Of the Year gong in the 18th eircom/FAI International Awards, which will be broadcast live on RTÉ in February.

MINUTES before the media gathered at Gannon Park in Malahide yesterday for a post-training briefing from Steve Staunton, the news broke via the Manchester City website that Stephen Ireland had withdrawn from the Irish squad.