Ireland call not driving Stephen

AFTER A WEEK of comebacks so surprising that you half expect Muhammad Ali to step back into the ring, would it be too much to imagine Stephen Ireland putting on the green of his country again?

The Corkman has been in international exile for more than four years and appeared to kill off any slim chance of reconciliation with Giovanni Trappatoni last March when it was reported he called the Italian “arrogant”, as well as criticising his home town, country and adopted city of Birmingham.

Ireland claimed he was misquoted and misrepresented in the French football magazine interview, but his comments over the years suggest he has never felt a burning desire to add to his six caps.

Even now, he says he does not lose sleep over the prospect of missing out on Euro 2012.

But with Ireland getting back to his best form, and half of Trappatoni’s side alongside him at Aston Villa, you have to wonder whether he is rethinking the wisdom of his exile.

Captain Robbie Keane is the latest to claim a peg in the Villa Park dressing room, along with Shay Given and Richard Dunne and young hopefuls Ciaran Clark and Enda Stevens, signed from Shamrock Rovers recently.

But Ireland was the outstanding player in a humdrum 1-1 draw with Everton, for whom another Irishman, Darron Gibson was making his debut after signing from Manchester United.

If it were a straight choice between the two players to face World and European champions Spain in Gdansk on June 14, you would rather have the Villa midfielder in your ranks than Gibson, who is a middling Premier League player but unlikely to worry Xavi, Iniesta or Fabregas.

Ireland, by contrast, is getting fitter and more confident by the game and is starting to show the superb ability he first demonstrated at Manchester City, when he was one of the league’s best young players.

His driving display led Villa to victory at Chelsea a fortnight ago, he was inspirational against Arsenal and was again the star performer in a match Trappatoni would have done well to watch.

Does Ireland never think about Ireland, with Euro 2012 on the horizon? “No, I don’t think about it. My first step was to get back into the team here and now I’ve done that. My next target is to get as many goals and assists between now and the end of the season.

“I’m taking one step at a time and I’ll happily just play club football. I’ve been out of it for so long that I’m not going to miss playing for Ireland. I’m not sure what’s round the corner.”

But surely Euro 2012 must be a talking point on the training ground at Bodymoor Heath?

“It’s not on my mind because I have not been approached in such a long time — maybe two years. If something comes to me, then I’ll see but other than that, I will just get on with my football here,” says Ireland.

He does appear to show a new maturity and determination to get back to his best, having been in the doldrums for two years including a fruitless loan spell at Newcastle.

Fitness problems and a lack of faith from various managers did not help his cause, nor did his penchant for pink wheels and shisha pipes.

“That was just a bit of fun. I threw a party a month ago and rented the pipes for everybody and just kept them. I found out we had Christmas Day off so I said to my wife let’s celebrate it. The lads all had a laugh.’’

After Darren Bent opened the scoring for the home side in the 56th minute, Everton got their now customary draw with Villa when substitute Victor Anichebe slid home Landon Donovan’s pass. Even the late introduction of Keane, like Donovan on loan from LA Galaxy could not break the deadlock, but Ireland welcomed his arrival.

“Robbie is brilliant in the changing room. He’s very vocal and a good person to be around. It’s the same with Shay Given, they are similar in many ways, good voices in the changing room.”

Given returned after seven games injured, and said: “I’m delighted Robbie’s here. He is a big game player and a big personality and has shown in training this week how good a player he is. He’s given the changing room a big lift.

“It’s important that Robbie is back in the fold because we have a big summer coming up, and there’s a few of the Irish boys here who can help him settle into the club. We’re delighted to have him here.”

The keeper grinned and passed on the subject of an international recall for Ireland but said: “You look at stats, even when he was at City, he is always the fittest player at the club. He can cover more distance than any other player, and gets all over the pitch.

“Ok, he likes his cars and tattoos — he is a character, let’s put it that way.”