Hughes: Ireland return unlikely

MANCHESTER CITY manager Mark Hughes doesn’t see Stephen Ireland returning to international action with the Republic of Ireland any time soon.

The Cobh-born player starred for City in their 1-0 win over Wolves on Saturday and Irish boss Giovanni Trapattoni was there to watch Ireland and his Irish colleagues Richard Dunne and Shay Given, as well as Wolves’ Andy Keogh and Kevin Doyle.

However, Hughes poured cold water on the prospects of Ireland making a return to boost the Republic’s chances of getting to the World Cup next year in South Africa.