Ireland will not return to Irish team

Stephen Ireland has finally confirmed that he will not be returning to the Republic of Ireland team.

The Manchester City midfielder has revealed that he met manager Giovanni Trapattoni last season, while a phone call this summer confirmed his decision not to play for his country again.

In an interview in today's Daily Star Sunday, the Cobh native admitted: 'When I met Trapattoni for a chat last season I felt there was a lot of arrogance going on.

'We were in the middle of chatting and he kept leaving the room to answer one of the four phones he had on him.

'We didn't speak after that until this summer, when he called me. But I think he made that call for his own benefit, rather than mine. He said: "Is it ok if I tell the press that I've spoken to you and there's a chance of you coming back?"

'I said: "You can tell people we've spoken and maybe we'll meet up in the future, but don't say there's a chance of me coming back because there probably isn't."

'As soon as he switched from talking about meeting up with me to announcing it to the press I knew what his agenda was.'

The 23-year-old added: 'Even with the prospect of a World Cup, it hasn't crossed my mind once about going back. I have never felt part of the squad and I never will.

'When I watch Ireland games it's weird. It's like I was never there and I don't miss it at all.'