No Trap call, says Ireland as exile set to drag on

THE odds on Stephen Ireland returning to the international fold have lengthened after a weekend war of words between the player and the Irish camp.

In a newspaper interview published on Saturday, the Manchester City midfielder was quoted as saying: “I read in the press that Trapattoni and Liam Brady have said they have contacted me. Well, they haven’t, not directly.”

In response, the FAI yesterday released a statement taking issue with the content of the player’s remarks. It said: “Contrary to reports in the article about press claims, neither Giovanni Trapattoni, nor any other member of the senior management team have made any comment about re-contacting Stephen Ireland since their meeting, other than to say that if he wants to play for his country, it is up to him to declare himself available.”