Sports Digest : Ireland Offered a Squad Return

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Irish Voice Sport

Sports Digest : Ireland Offered a Squad Return

November 15, 2007

By Cathal Dervan

TROUBLED Manchester City star Stephen Ireland has been offered the chance to make his international return in Wales on Saturday – but only if he picks up the phone to caretaker manager Don Givens.

The stand-in Irish boss has confirmed that he is prepared to offer Ireland a sensational international return against the Welsh in the final Euro 2008 qualifier.

Givens left the troubled Manchester City star out of his 22-man squad for the short hop across the Irish Sea after insisting that the player needs to prove his desire to play for his country before he can return.

But Givens handed Ireland an olive branch and confirmed, “If Stephen Ireland rang me tomorrow and told me he wants to come back into the squad then I would have him with us in Cardiff.

“Oh God yeah, without a doubt there is a place there for him if he wants it. If he rings me now and says that he expected to be in the squad for Wales and wants to be in the squad for Cardiff then I would have him back and include him, of course I would.

“Stephen Ireland is a talented player and we could do with Stephen Ireland in Wales next Saturday, there’s no doubt about that. But he has to ring me and tell me he wants to play. If he really wants to be there I will gladly take him back.”

Goalkeeper Shay Given is a more immediate concern for Givens, with the Newcastle stopper highly unlikely to face the Welsh after missing the northeast derby at Sunderland.

“I have spoken to Shay and he was always going to miss yesterday’s game with this latest groin injury but he is not out for next Saturday just yet,” added Givens.

“He is hoping that the injury will respond to treatment so we’ll see how he is when the squad meets up in Cardiff. It’s not looking good but he still has a chance.”

Givens, normally employed as under-21 guru, takes charge of the senior Irish side for the second time in five years as the FAI wait to appoint Stephen Staunton’s successor after a disastrous Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.

Staunton’s reign will be forgotten when Givens sends his team out to play Wales, but the caretaker will spare a thought for the man who came before him.

“I do feel for Stan, I do feel for him,” insisted Givens. “I think it was a tough job because we are in a bit of transition. It was his first job and he was a bit unfortunate that Bobby Robson’s illness curtailed his help.

“That was a big thing given the fact that it was his first job so he would have probably leaned on Bobby a bit more than I would do. I would be a bit more experienced albeit at under-21 level so I think it was a big thing.

“Hindsight is a great thing but obviously Stan felt that he could do it but with Bobby not being well and some players past their best it was a tough, tough job for Stan, no doubt about it.”

As for the next man into the seat he will occupy all this week Givens added, “I wouldn’t have a clue who’s going to get it, honest to God I wouldn’t have a clue.

“If you asked me I would have to say that I have a feeling that the next man might not be Irish. That’s all I can say because the Irish people whose names have been thrown up, I am not sure they have the experience and we probably have to go for experience now.”

Givens has already called Wolves midfielder Darren Potter into his squad after Joey O’Brien and Steven Reid withdrew from the original 23-man squad, but Birmingham defender Stephen Kelly is an injury concern for Saturday’s game.

Mick Not Interested

FORMER Ireland boss Mick McCarthy has ruled himself out of a return to the job after caretaker boss Don Givens named him as the ideal candidate to replace Stephen Staunton.

“I would be an ideal candidate because I did it for seven years with some success. It was a fantastic job and I loved every minute of it,” said McCarthy, now boss at Wolverhampton.

“For all the grief the FAI gets they let me get on with the job. It’s got better in terms of the finance, the training facilities and the support, so whoever gets it will be fortunate, but I’m not considering it in any shape or form.”

Meanwhile, former Liverpool and Lyon manager Gerard Houllier has denied reports of contact from the FAI in relation to the Ireland job.

Houllier, now joint favorite with the bookies alongside England coach Terry Venables, said, “I can tell you I have not been contacted.”

Liverpool and Ireland striker John Aldridge has confirmed that he won’t apply for the job after suffering disappointment on two previous occasions, but he is interested in talking to the FAI if they want to talk to him.

“Obviously as a coach you’ve got to be interested in managing your country. Being able to work for your country in any capacity would be interesting,” he said.

“I was interested the last couple of times when I put my name in the hat. It wasn’t to be, so third time lucky? You never know.”

Ramblers Victorious

COBH Ramblers are the new eircom League First Division champions after a 1-0 win in Athlone on Saturday night sealed their return to the top flight.

Manager Stephen Henderson said afterwards, “This means the world to Cobh. It’s our first ever senior trophy and it’s something to put in the squad photo for next year. We have used a very young squad this year but now they are winners.

“Our 27 match unbeaten run showed they didn’t like losing, they closed down people, worked very hard and our shape is very good. When we have ball players like Kieran O’Reilly, Graham Cummins, Gareth Cambridge and Davin O’Neill who can change the game for us.

“The squad is so young nobody will come robbing on us. We can keep the squad together for the next three years as most players will be re-signed. The club know that we have people coming in, it’s not about getting money to bring players in because it takes a special player to come in and match the work rate, work ethic and desire to want to do well.”

Better Than Ronaldo?

CELTIC goalkeeper Artur Boruc has claimed that Irish winger Aiden McGeady can become a better player than Manchester United wizard Ronaldo.

McGeady was the match-winner and man of the match as Celtic got their UEFA Champions League bid back on track with a 1-0 victory over Benfica last week.

After the game Boruc said, “Aiden was really unbelievable against Benfica. He made so many great runs and was so important for our team.

“I think he can be better than Cristiano Ronaldo. That’s my opinion. I’ve played a few games against Ronaldo now and while it’s hard to compare the two players, Aiden has the ability to be better.”

Player Choice

FIFA have ruled that players born on the island of Ireland can choose whether to play for the North or the Republic under the Good Friday agreement following complaints from the IFA over Darron Gibson’s decision to play for the South.

A statement from the FAI said, “The Football Association of Ireland is pleased that FIFA have once again upheld the principle that players born in Northern Ireland should be free to choose whether they wish to play for the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland.

“The FAI will now meet with its legal advisors to review in detail the proposals contained in the FIFA letter before formulating a response.”

Soccer Shorts

VETERAN defender Darragh Maguire has left St. Patrick’s Athletic as work commitments have forced him to turn down the club’s offer of full-time football next season. Michael Foley and winger Sean O’Connor will also leave Pats, while the Saints have signed defender Damian Lynch from Drogheda United. Brendan Clarke, Barry Ryan, Mark Quigley and Ryan Guy have signed new contracts at Richmond Park . . .

LONGFORD Town striker Dave Mooney is attracting interest from Colchester United and Bristol City while teammates Shay Kelly, Pat Sullivan, Kevin Doherty, Sean Prunty and Dessie Baker are all expected to leave the club following relegation . . .

DAVID Cassidy, Robbie Clarke, Jamie Duffy, Dave McGill, John McGuinness, Andy Myler, Dave O’Connor, Derek Pender, Alan Reynolds, Ian Ryan and Paul Shiels have all been released by Shamrock Rovers manager Pat Scully . . .

FINN Harps will host Dundalk in the First Division promotion playoff on Friday night, with the winners set to play Waterford United in a two way playoff for a place in the Premier Division next season . . .

NEWLY crowned eircom League champions Drogheda United have pruned their squad for next season, with Stephen Gray, Damian Lynch, Stephen Bradley, Gavin Whelan and James Keddy all leaving the Louth club . . .

LEAGUE Cup winners Derry City will host First Division champions Cobh Ramblers next Monday night in a winner take all playoff for a place in next season’s Setanta Sports Cup . . .

CORK City have threatened to boycott next month’s FAI Cup final against Longford Town in a row with the FAI over the distribution of revenue from the game at the RDS . . .

SHAMROCK Rovers are to play their home games next season at the Donnybrook home of Leinster rugby ahead of their move to a new purpose built stadium in Tallaght . . .

THE FAI have confirmed that five time World Cup winners Brazil will play a Croke Park friendly next February with Italy or Poland likely to visit the venue in March . . .

EVERTON striker Aidan Downes is a late call-up to the Irish under-21 squad for the Euro qualifiers against Montenegro on Friday and Bulgaria next Tuesday . . .

SHELBOURNE will play their home games at Tolka Park for at least another 12 months after Home Farm turned down a request to rent their Whitehall ground . . . .

SUNDERLAND have joined Stoke City and Dundee United in the chase for Derry City defender Ken Oman . . .

SHEFFIELD United have been linked with Blackpool’s Irish midfielder Wes Hoolahan . . .

IRISH goalkeeper Nicky Colgan is to join Wrexham on loan from Barnsley.

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