Kerr surprised by ongoing Ireland saga

Former Ireland manager Brian Kerr has expressed his surprise that the saga over the return, or otherwise, of Stephen Ireland has been allowed to drag on this far by Martin O’Neill.

The seven-year international exile of the Cobh man is expected to continue until at least September when O’Neill unveils his final squad in Waterford today for the upcoming cluster of four friendly matches that begin on Sunday against Turkey at the Aviva Stadium.

Ireland, with whom Kerr had a disagreement in 2002 while he was managing the Irish U17s, has remained central to the narrative of O’Neill’s seven-month reign due to the player’s Premier League revival at Stoke City and the mixed messages he’s conveyed on his international future.