O’Brien ponders Irish retirement

JOEY O’BRIEN has admitted he could turn his back on the Republic of Ireland after failing to force his way into manager Giovanni Trapattoni’s plans.

The 22-year-old Dubliner is yet to make an appearance for his country under the Italian, and has hinted he may follow Manchester City counterpart Stephen Ireland into self-imposed exile.

O’Brien said: “I love playing for my country, love meeting up and I have great friends. But I don’t like walking around in a track suit saying, ‘I play for Ireland’. I’m like a fan in a tracksuit. I’m gutted about the whole thing. The manager is the manager and he’s a great manager, but I’m not in his plans.”