Ireland unlikely to be seen in green anytime soon

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI will be at Villa Park next week for the visit of Everton but it’s unlikely he’ll be seeing Stephen Ireland in anything other than an Aston Villa shirt anytime soon.

While the Irish exile raised headlines and eyebrows over the weekend by refusing to rule out discussions about a possible return to the international fold, subsequent comments made by the Cobh man suggest such a scenario is as far away as it’s ever been since his last appearance for Ireland in Bratislava three years ago.

Said the midfielder: “It’s more important for me to concentrate on Aston Villa and get myself back on track. I would rather win the Premier League than the World Cup.”