No going back for Ireland as City star hails decision to quit

ANY lingering hope of Stephen Ireland playing a part in the remainder of Ireland’s World Cup campaign seems to have finally been extinguished after the Manchester City player described quitting international football as the best decision he ever made.

And while his former Irish colleagues will this week be concentrating on next Saturday’s crunch qualifier in Cyprus, Ireland says he is looking forward tos pending the international break in training.

In an interview with a Sunday newspaper, the hugely talented 23-year-old appeared to end thedebate about the prospects of his international comeback when he said: “I’m not thinking about it at all. It’s just my position and it feels like the best decision I have ever made.”

By contrast, his commitment to club football seems all encompassing.

“I want to lead,” he said. “I want the players, staff and manager to know they can rely on me. I want to put my body on the line and that’s why I do this extra training. I never want to be left out, I want to play every minute.”

But not, apparently, for Ireland. Giovanni Trapattoni, who watched Ireland playing for Manchester City last weekend, has long maintained that only a positive signal of intent from the player would lead to his being recalled to an Irish squad – something the manager has indicated he would clearly love to be able to do. But Ireland’s latest comments scarcely fit that bill and make the chances of his appearing in a green shirt as remote as they have ever been since he played his last game for his country in Slovakia in September ’07.

Better news for Trapattoni ahead of next Saturday’s big game in Nicosia, is that Kevin Doyle now feels he is very close to peak fitness after playing 90 minutes for Wolves in their 1-1 draw with Hull City on Saturday.

Following on from a hernia operation, Doyle suffered a setback in the friendly defeat to Australia at Thomond Park and was initially deemed very doubtful for next Saturday’s game in Nicosia.

However, his recovery has been far speedier than expected and the striker now fully expects to be available for selection for his country next weekend.

“To play and still be able to run after 90 minutes is great,” he said over the weekend.