With Martin O'Neill yet to trim down his Ireland squad for the upcoming Nations League tie against Wales in Cardiff, it is expected that Cardiff City's Harry Arter is set to be a surprise exclusion.
One of the few Premier League players amongst the provisional squad O'Neill named, Jeff Hendrick will be Ireland's only midfielder plying his trade in England's top flight should Arter miss out on a trip that will also consist of a friendly against Poland.
Born and raised in England, Arter made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland in 2015; coming on for Glenn Whelan in an international friendly against England. Representing Ireland on twelve further occasions, the absence of the 28-year-old midfielder would signify an unexpected setback for Ireland.
However, according to reports in the Independent, Arter's involvement in an altercation with the Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane may play some role in the sudden omission of Arter, casting the Cardiff man's immediate international future in doubt.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, O'Neill confirmed the involvement of Jonathan Walters in the aforementioned altercation also.
"In one of the particular arguments, the two lads - Roy and the particular player - were actually in agreement about the same thing but it took them time to realise it.
"Roy has been a big supporter of Jon, for instance, as he is particularly close to one of the Burnley coaching staff and is always keeping Jon’s end up, but I can’t say there wasn’t an altercation - absolutely.”
With Declan Rice's international future already looking uncertain after it had appeared his allegiance was with the Republic of Ireland, the loss of Arter would signal a further blow as O'Neill's men look toward qualifying for the 2020 European Championships.
