Trapattoni confident Ireland will return to the fold

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI is confident Stephen Ireland will return to the international fold, although the Manchester City midfielder is once again absent from the latest Irish squad.

And the new manager also revealed yesterday that he is optimistic Steve Finnan plans to reverse his decision to retire from international duty.

“I know his story, I know what happened,” Trapattoni said of Ireland yesterday. “When I spoke with him, I said ‘you are young and we will leave it for the moment like this. But you have a big opportunity in front of you, a long career in international football. I am sure you have a love for your country’.

“He looked at me without answering but I’m sure I made an impression and that he understood my message. I look players in the eye when I speak to them. The eyes never lie. I have trust he’ll come back.”

In discussing the controversial midfielder, Trapattoni referred to the Italian player Antonio Cassano.

“He is a little bit...”, said the manager, pointing at his head in the universal sign for someone with, shall we say, certain issues.

England manager Fabio Capello coined the phrase “Cassanata” to describe the disruptive influence of the Sampdoria player and the term has since been used in the Italian press to describe any behaviour which causes disharmony in the dressing room.

But Trapattoni believes that the Irish squad would have no problem with Stephen Ireland coming back.

“I am sure the other players have respect for Stephen Ireland,” he said. “And that is important. Ireland has quality and players respect quality. Okay, he’s not ready for the first game but we hope he will be ready for the important games.”

Trapttoni also said that he will make the next move in the long-running Ireland saga. “It is my habit, my custom, to call the players. In the near future, soon, I will call him.”

Meanwhile, Trapattoni believes that Finnan will make himself available for selection after he has recovered from a close season hernia operation. And the new manager is also optimistic that once Bolton’s Andy O’ Brien has sorted out his club future, he too will return to Irish duty in time for the World Cup campaign.