Whelan targets Stoke first team return

GLENN WHELAN reckons he must be one of the freshest players in the Irish camp this week.

But, joking aside, the out of favour Stoke City midfielder is desperate to get back playing first team football, not least because he worries that his current club predicament could jeopardise his Ireland place.

“The manager (Giovanni Trapattoni) hasn’t said anything to me but I know myself,” says Whelan. “I’m not stupid and if you’re not playing week in, week out, you’re going to lose your match sharpness. I need to get playing as soon as possible. Come next year if I’m not playing I can’t really see these international chances coming around because there will be other lads playing and they will have a fighting chance of getting into the squad.