Will Stephen Ireland return to Irish team?

In the week that a Corkman made the Irish football squad for the first time in a number of years, is it possible that there will soon be two?

Rochestown man and former Cork City player David Meyler was called up when Everton's Darron Gibson pulled out of the squad for the World Cup Qualifier against Kazakhtan this weekend. He may soon be joined by the Cobh's prodigal son Stephen Ireland.

His girlfriend Jessica Lawlor suggested that he wants to play for Ireland once more, when she was interviewed by Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh for a new series of 'Celebrity Banisteoir: The Rivals'.

He asks Cork woman Lawlor: "Mother of God would you ever get him to come home and put on the green jersey?"

"I tried, believe me," she answers.

"I'd love more than anything for Stephen to go back and play for Ireland. All his family would, we all would, everyone is rooting behind him, and Stephen would too.

"I know people might be surprised to hear that, but you know, it's water under the bridge and stuff and I feel like he's ready now and he'd love to represent his country again.

"I think he is really patriotic about it so hopefully in the future, you know, fingers crossed, we'll see Stephen put on the green shirt back on. It would be amazing, I'd love it," she added.

Whether he will be wanted by manager Giovanni Trappatoni is another matter.

The veteran Italian has been antagonising players recently and does not seem like the best man to entice the Aston Villa star back to the team.

Last season Stephen Ireland had his best season for a number of years and picked up a Player of the Year award from the Birmingham club's fans.

David Meyler has hardly played any football in the last few years since he was last called up to the Ireland squad. The Sunderland midfielder has only made a few appearances after a sequence of serious injuries.