The Louthman has shed some more light on Trapattoni's rigorous combing of the earth for potential Ireland players on Sky Sports, revealing that Trap did not even know he was Irish. Harte told the venerable broadcaster that the squad is full of players who aren't even Irish.
"I am Irish as well and there are a lot of players in the Irish squad that are not even Irish," he said. "For me, I have played 67 times and I love pulling on the green shirt.
"I was speaking to a few of the players and they said he [Trapattoni] did not realise I was Irish even though I have played 67 times, scored 11 goals and am the second leading scorer in the squad."
Do note that the players keeping Harte out of the squad - Kelly, Ward, O'Dea - are all really 'Irish'. I guess everyone just presumed Harte had retired from international football during his wandering years (Levante, Sunderland, Blackpool, Carlisle etc), but the defender, who's made the team of the Championship for the last two seasons, would like to remind the world that he hasn't gone away.
