STEPHEN Ireland has been told the door is open for him to return to international football.
Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has told the City midfielder that he wants him back in the squad.
Ireland has been in a self-imposed exile from the Republic set-up since last September.
But Trapattoni met him in Manchester a fortnight ago to try to talk the Blues Academy graduate back into the fold.
The Italian is also hopeful that Bolton's Andy O'Brien and Liverpool's Steve Finnan will also end their international retirements.
"I saw them two weeks ago - my door is open for them," Trapattoni said.
"I called one week ago and I said: 'Now you know my number.' Now I wait. We will go and see them when they play, but we have to look ahead.
"At the moment we have a good squad, and when they want to come back, they know we have good players. They will have to earn their place in the team."
Ireland has so far decided against resuming his international career. Reports that he had been bullied by his team-mates while on international duty were denied by Reading midfielder Stephen Hunt last autumn.
But Trapattoni believes that all three players have plenty of time to change their minds.
He said: "With the young, today the wind is like this, tomorrow the wind is like this."
"I spoke with Steve Finnan and I am sure he is OK. He is a man, he is not an old player.
"My feeling is that one or two said to me: 'At the moment, no because I have a problem, but in the future, there is a possibility I will come back.' My feeling is that."
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yada yada yada!!!cash in now, city!!
Lets hope the door out of city is open as well.
bring back bradbury..........very funny mate, snappy, i like that......i cant decide about ireland, ridiculously obvious hair implant aside......he could be great, then again he's inconsistent so 8 million, hmmmmmmm
Ireland and City are both at crossroads. Ireland really has to step up to the plate and start imposing his talent on matches. He is a talent but a luxury that more often than not drifts out of games completaly and is a waste of a blue shirt. One season left at most or sell noz and cash in:
When Ireland plays in centralish midfield he is excellent, every game (MOM against Sunderland lest we forget, when no one else could give a s*"*!). He is NOT a winger, where we all know he has struggled this year. Perhaps the next manager might suss this our for himself, unlike most of the muppets on here.
if we get 7-8 millions for ireland just cash in!
good luck to the lad.... just remember he's still young and developing,give him encouragement because he will become a great player with the right support, let us all hope his future is at CITY!