MARTIN O’Neill believes Stephen Ireland is past his best but admits he would still pick the Stoke midfielder if he was interested in resurrecting his international career.
Speaking at a press conference to announce his latest Republic of Ireland squad on Tuesday, O’Neill confirmed that he has given up on trying to persuade Ireland to make himself available.
O’Neill’s last attempt to speak to Ireland about his international career over a year and a half ago went unanswered, with the former Celtic boss leaving the ball in the midfielder’s court ever since.
At a time when O’Neill is short of Premier League players to choose from, Ireland put in arguably his best ever performance in a Stoke shirt on Saturday when he inspired the Potters to come from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Tottenham.
O’Neill, who has been to watch Stoke already this season, acknowledges that Ireland is performing well, but claims the 29-year-old will never recapture the form that saw him shoot to fame with Manchester City around eight years ago.
“The brutal truth is that Stephen Ireland is not the Stephen Ireland that played brilliantly for Manchester City quite some years ago,” said O’Neill. “That said we do need talent in the side.
“I went to the Stoke City (v Liverpool) game and he didn’t start that game at the start of the season. (But) he’s come on and made an impression (against Spurs).”
When asked if Ireland had failed to fulfil his potential after showing so much promise at Man City from a young age, O’Neill labelled the midfielder’s career ‘fitful’.
“I think you’d have to ask him that,” he said. “It’s been fitful."
Speaking after his notable display at White Hart Lane, Ireland claimed he’s happier at Stoke than he’s ever been in his club career.
He said: “I'm happy with the chances I got and with the chances I made, but as a whole I'm the happiest and the most confident I have been here. My aim is to play here as much as I can, I'm really enjoying it here and I want to achieve a lot of personal goals at this football club."
The Cork native has not played for his country since 2007 after falling foul of the FAI for repeatedly misinforming the governing body in order to be released from the senior squad.
