‘Tired’ Stokes angers Tardelli

ANTHONY STOKES has done his international prospects under Giovanni Trapattoni no favours by pulling out of the Republic of Ireland squad claiming tiredness.

The striker communicated his decision on Friday to withdraw from the panel for this week’s Carling Nations Cup games and the Euro qualifier against Macedonia on June 4 — a day before he played a substitute’s role in Celtic’s 3-0 Scottish Cup Final win against Motherwell on Saturday.

Asked yesterday if he was annoyed by the explanation for the player’s decision, Marco Tardelli bluntly replied “Yes”.