FAI couldn't contact goalkeeper for four weeks

Republic of Ireland and Scunthorpe goalkeeper Joe Murphy has said the FAI were unable to contact him for four weeks after the end of last season because he didn't take his phone on holiday with him.

Speaking about his absence from the game against Bulgaria in June, Murphy admitted that he didn't even tell his parents where he had gone on holiday.

Murphy said: "I was away on holiday in Australia and they (the FAI) couldn't get in contact with me.

"Because it was such a long season, I went away straight after the final game. I wanted to chill out, I didn't take my phone and just went away for four weeks. I didn't tell my mother and father where I was staying.

"When I came back, I had 40 or 50 voicemails and a couple of emails.

Murphy, whose side Scunthorpe lost to Cardiff at the weekend, spoke of his delight to be back in the international fold and the buzz about playing in Thomond Park.