Carsley to focus on club before country

LEE CARSLEY has discussed his return to international football with new Republic of Ireland boss Steve Staunton, but made it clear he wants to re-establish himself with Everton first.

The midfielder earned 29 caps before announcing his international retirement at the start of the 2004-05 campaign, but stated earlier this season that he had given the situation second thoughts.

However, being sidelined with injury since last summer - until his first team return last weekend - had forced Carsley to put on hold any thought of earning more caps.

But the 32-year-old says he has had talks with Staunton.

He said: “I have spoken to Steve Staunton and he knows my position, and he knows that at the moment Everton is my priority.

“I am just going to think about playing for Everton and having a good rest in the summer and then we will see what happens next season.”

But Carsley admits that if Staunton called him up for the Republic’s next match against Chile in Dublin on May 24, he may change his mind.

He continued: “If the call came I’d want to go, but at the moment I have only played one game for Everton.”

David Moyes has not yet ruled out a return to first-team action for Nuno Valente before the end of the season.

The Portuguese international has not played since the 3-1 win over Fulham last month, following a thigh injury.

There were initial fears that the extent of the injury could sideline the Portugal international for the remainder of the season.

But Moyes says Valente is making excellent progress in his recovery from the problem and has now resumed running.

The injury is not expected to keep Valente out of Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Portugal squad for the World Cup finals in Germany this summer.

Moyes said “Nuno is doing some running now. We will have to see how everybody goes this weekend and then see what happens in the last few games.”