Ireland return ‘premature’

Stoke manager Mark Hughes feels talk of a return to international football for Stephen Ireland is “a little bit premature”.

The midfielder, on a season-long loan at Stoke from Aston Villa, said he is willing to consider ending his self-imposed international exile but Hughes feels a permanent successor to Giovanni Trapattoni as Ireland boss needs to be appointed before the situation can be progressed.

“Stephen is still trying to get back to the levels he knows he can reach and at the moment he is not quite there,” Hughes said.