The Telegraph's Luke Edwards is today reporting that Harry Arter is open to a return to the Irish camp after Seamus Coleman acted peace broker between the player and assistant manager Roy Keane.
Arter turned down a call-up to the squad for this round of games against Wales and Poland, with Martin O'Neill admitting that a verbal altercation with Roy Keane was part of the reason behind Arter's self-imposed exile. The details of that altercation were leaked yesterday, with Stephen Ward alleging in a putatively private WhatsApp voice message that Keane called Arter a 'wanker' and a 'prick' in a row over Arter's fitness ahead of the June friendly with the United States. Keane disputes this version of events.
O'Neill backed his assistant manager having listened to both sides of the incident, but Keane's alleged profanities have seen a shift in the public PR battle and O'Neill yesterday conceded that Keane was open to a reconciliation with Arter.
I think there is a bit of a reconciliation that might take place after we finish in Poland, between Harry and Roy. Roy is certainly up for that.
It now appears that Arter is receptive to such a rapprochement, per the Telegraph report. It states that Coleman has been in touch with the Cardiff midfielder to assure him that the squad is eager for Arter to return to the squad.
A Harry Arter return now looks on the cards for the Nations League double-header with Denmark and Wales on October 13th and 16th.
O'Neill also stressed that Stephen Ward will not be excluded from future squads owing to the WhatsApp message, but did confirm that Keane is "disappointed" over the leaking of the message.
