City starlet will rebuff Kerr call – report
Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland, who made an exceptional full Premiership debut in Sunday’s victory over Everton, will knock back any invitation from Brian Kerr to the senior international squad, according to a Tuesday morning newspaper report.
The former Cobh Ramblers midfielder had impressed in two substitute appearances for City before earning a starting role against the Toffees at Eastlands at the weekend.
He responded with a Man-of-the-Match performance, earning praise from teammate Danny Mills and manager Stuart Pearce.
But the 19-year-old will never play for Ireland under Kerr after a fall-out during the manager’s time in charge of the Irish youth international set-up three years ago.
Ireland was an unused substitute for under-17 qualifier defeats at the hands of Germany and France in Cork – and opted to return to his club instead of wait for another possible rebuff in the final mini-tournament qualifier against Slovenia.
And the Irish Independent reports that Ireland, who has not been part of an Irish squad at any level since that walk-out, will not consider a call-up as long as Kerr is in charge of the senior side.
