I was just reading Malachy Clerkin in the Irish Times. O'Neill didn't try and coax him back. He was asked what his position on Stephen Ireland was and he simply replied that if Keane can return after Saipan then anyone can. He said that he had a big issue with John Hartson one time and it was resolved, and Stephen Ireland is smaller than Hartson!
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/socc...1592579?page=2
Edit: in fact O'Neill says a bit more about Ireland in this article, saying he doesn't know him well, he wasn't instrumental in signing him for Villa, and yesterday he seemed to put the ball in Ireland's court.
http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/socc...lash-1.1592364
Sorry, I'd quote the relevant paragraphs but its not that easy to cut and paste from an iPad.
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