Walters looks to draw line under Trap saga

Republic of Ireland striker Jon Walters believes the FAI’s decision to publicly back manager Giovanni Trapattoni should put an end to speculation over the Italian’s future.

Trapattoni came under pressure after the humiliating 6-1 World Cup qualifier home defeat to Germany earlier this month but Walters has leapt to the defence of the 73-year-old and feels it is now time to look forward.

“John Delaney and the FAI came out and backed him publicly so I think that puts an end to it really as far as we’re concerned,” the Stoke man said. “His record speaks for itself. He got us to the Euros. He’s pulled us right up in the rankings.

“Obviously with the Germany result, there’s always going to be questions asked but we played the Faroes in the game after and got a good win, 4-1 away. If you look at the (qualifier) record overall, I think we lost to Germany and Russia so it’s not that bad a record.”

Walters said the loss of key players, Damien Duff and Shay Given to retirement, and Richard Dunne to injury were contributory factors to the defeat to Germany.

“To have the players like Duffer, Shay and Dunney not playing — they’re big misses,’’ he told Sky Sports’ Goals On Sunday.

“We’ve got a lot of fresh faces in the squad now, young players hungry to be part of the squad.”

Walters believes the presence of the Germans in the group means that realistically, second place was the best Ireland could have hoped for and he highlighted the importance of the doubleheader away to Sweden and at home to Austria in March.

“I think in the group it was always going to be a case of going for second place with Germany in the group. They’re one of the best teams in the world. We’re battling now for that second place with Austria and Sweden and the double-header against them is going to be massive.’’

Trapattoni was at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday where he saw Walters’ club and international team-mate Marc Wilson break his leg in the goalless draw against Sunderland.

Walters said of Wilson: ‘‘I’ve spoken to him. It’s not a good one but speaking to him he’s nice and positive.’’

Walters also spoke of his relationship with his former boss Roy Keane and said he deserves another shot at management.

Walters was Keane’s captain during his unsuccessful spell at Ipswich but enraged the Corkman by telling him he wished to leave the Tractor Boys in August 2010. Walters admits he left Ipswich on bad terms but feels Keane still has a lot to offer.

‘‘I always got on with him until I left,’’ Walters quipped.

‘‘I wanted to go, he wanted me to stay. I left. It probably wasn’t on good terms but before that it was okay. We weren’t doing the best in the league but I’m sure he’s trying to get back in to be a manager and I’d still say ‘take him and give him a go’.”