Dunne pessimistic on Ireland return
by Mark Doyle, 08 October 2008
Richard Dunne has all but given up on his Manchester City team-mate Stephen Ireland making a return to the Republic of Ireland set-up.
Ace midfielder Ireland has not played for his country since his now infamous withdrawal from the squad for the World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic last year.
That incident – and the possibility of Ireland making a comeback – has been the subject of much heated debate ever since but Dunne is hoping for an end to the affair.
Indeed, at this stage the centre-half is wondering whether it would even be right for Ireland to return.
“I don't think anything more can be done," said Dunne. "He's 22 now and he's made his decision, he doesn't want to play and that's it.
"What the manager [Giovanni Trapattoni] has done is say the door is open and if he wants to come back, then he can come back. But I think the longer it goes on, the more difficult it gets. If we get to a stage where next September we're sitting top of the table and looking like qualifying, is it right that he comes back?”
Dunne revealed that the players have grown very weary of the constant speculation and he believes that Ireland should make a final decision on the matter.
"That's the one big annoying factor of it," the Dubliner admitted.
"If he doesn't want to play then fair enough, it's his own choice or whatever, but if we have to keep getting asked about it and answer questions on his behalf every time we turn up then that's annoying.
"He did an interview last week but hasn't really clarified it. Unless he comes out and says, 'I don't want to play for Ireland' then it's going to keep going over and over."