Stephen Ireland is open to talking to Giovanni Trapattoni's replacement about returning to play for Ireland. The midfielder is currently on loan at Stoke City having enjoyed a miserable time at Aston Villa and he hopes his form and fitness at Stoke might see him return to the international fold at some time in the future:
“I think I would like to get together and have a chat and try to put everything on the table, put across ideas and just have a good general chat.
“If nothing comes out of it, nothing comes out of it, but I think it would be nice just to have a chat.
“First and foremost it is just Stoke City on my mind.
“I need to get 10, 15, 20 games under my belt first and see how I go with that.
“Then maybe I might get in a position where Ireland want me to play and we could have a further conversation.
Some may have still have an issue about how Ireland ended it with the international team, but if his best form can be coaxed back out of him and logically Mark Hughes would appear to be the best man for that, Ireland could still be a huge asset to his country.
