O’Neill puts ball firmly in Ireland’s court

Call us, we won’t call you.

That, in essence, is the position Martin O’Neill has adopted in relation to Stephen Ireland, after the manager’s most recent attempts to meet with the international exile got no further than the player’s agent.

According to his agent, Ireland does want to discuss his international future with O’Neill in July but, as far as the Ireland manager is concerned, the Stoke City man will first have to contact him directly.