Fulham Stephen Kelly committed to Ireland

02 June 2011 10:15
ShareAs a man who has lived the dream and captained his country, no wonder Stephen Kelly doesn't get it.[LNB]Stay-aways, sicknotes, cry offs. Since he was a teenager, Kelly has never turned down an opportunity to play for his country, and he never will.[LNB]And he can't understand those who have done so in the last week.[LNB] Pride: Stephen Kelly (left) is disappointed with the number of Ireland call offs[LNB]He said: 'I don't get it, I just don't understand it. Maybe it's different for the guys who haven't been brought up here, they don't have the same feel for it, the same Irishness about things and same feeling for the big events growing up here.[LNB]'For me, it's probably the highest honour you can have in football. I know people talk about clubs, and Champions League and how clubs see themselves as being bigger than countries. But you're representing your country.[LNB]'I remember watching World Cups, getting half-days from school, street parties. You know the buzz I get thinking back to those days, USA '94 and all of that. The whole country was in uproar, like a craze.[LNB]'Even the World Cup when Robbie and Damien took part, I remember going to see them coming home at the Phoenix Park. It was just amazing. To be part of that now, words can't describe it.[LNB]'Of course we talk about it in the hotel, we'd be like zombies or something if we weren't talking about what's been in the press and what's going on outside.[LNB]'We're all delighted to be here, we love representing Ireland. Any opportunity we're given, we'll take it. That's great credit to the players who are here, they've shown that commitment.'[LNB] Memories: Ireland reached the last 16 of the 1994 World Cup[LNB]If there is tension in the air this week, which is reducing now as the players prepare for their match against Macedonia, there could be fun and games ahead when/if the likes of McCarthy, Walters, Clark are recalled.[LNB]'It depends on the circumstances,' he said. 'If they come in for friendlies, fair enough.  If we qualify for Euro 2012 and they start knocking on the door, that's different isn't it? [LNB]'All Irish people want is 100 per cent commitment from their team. Nobody expects us to go out and beat Brazil and play amazing football. They want to see the passion that Irish people deserve to see from their international team.[LNB]'It's important we make it to a championship for the supporters. Irish people have been famous no matter where we've gone in the world, for taking loads of people, being the heart and soul of the party and you can see that dwindling now already.[LNB]'Even in 2009, you could see how much of a blow it was that we didn't get to the World Cup. The whole country was on the brink of exploding. The way things were economically, it would have been a great boost for people to support something else and forget about what was happening domestically.[LNB]'Falling at the last hurdle was devastating but you could see that night in Paris there, the spark was back. The Irish people were ready to go again and hopefully we can get there again.' [LNB] Dramatic: Robbie Keane (right) scored to earn Ireland a draw with Germany in 2002[LNB]Kelly has a new nickname at Fulham thanks to his temporary elevation as Ireland captain.[LNB]The moment Kelly walked in to Craven Cottage, the day after he had captained Ireland against Uruguay, manager Mark Hughes called him 'skipper'. And it has stuck.[LNB]The tongue-in-cheek moniker is a sign of the affection Hughes and Kelly's team-mates have for the 27-year-old recruit from Belvedere.[LNB]It is also recognition which has reminded the Cottagers boss of the defender's prowess, and the belief Giovanni Trapattoni for one has in a player who is much-travelled, and desperate to prove his worth to his fourth Premier League club.[LNB]Kelly said: 'They were really, really delighted for me. They see how hard I work every day in training and what it means to come back and play for Ireland. They know how passionate I am about playing for my country.[LNB] Protest: Ireland missed out on the 2010 World Cup after Thierry Henry's handball[LNB]'It was huge for me. I think my confidence, regardless of what has happened at club level, is at an all time high. I feel extremely good about myself, and really at the top of my game.' [LNB] The former Spurs and Birmingham man was arguably in the form of his life at the start of the season, following Hughes's appointment.[LNB]But an agonising calf injury forced him out of the Fulham first team for almost two months. Before taking the armband for the March friendly, Kelly had spent nearly three months on the bench, watching Carlos Salcido play in his stead.[LNB]Kelly said: 'The team did well, which was frustrating for me to watch.[LNB]'The type of manager that Mark Hughes is that if a team is doing well, he sticks by them. I love that in a manager because when I am in the team doing well I think the manager is going to pick me.[LNB]'As hard as that is to take you have got to take it on the chin sometimes.[LNB] Made to feel welcome: Kelly (left) has impressed since joining Fulham[LNB]'Coming away with Ireland has allowed me to show that I am still fit and able to play at a high level.' [LNB]Like so many in Trapattoni's squad, Kelly faces an uncertain future at his current club. Like every member of the panel, and his international manager, he wants to play every week.[LNB]That may have to be away from Craven Cottage, although solid performances in the green of Ireland cannot have gone unnoticed. [LNB] With a Europa Cup campaign to consider from July after Fulham qualified as England's Fair Play nominees, Kelly will be in no rush to quit the club. He did well out of their last European journey to the final.[LNB]'The Europa League was a great experience for me and the club,' he said. 'Some of the games you're involved in you can only dream about, like that night we beat Juventus 4-1 at the Cottage. That was just like stuff from a story book, an amazing opportunity.[LNB] Gutted: Fulham lost to Atletico Madrid in the Europa League final[LNB]'It was a great time for the club and it really put us on the map. We surprised everybody with how far we went and in demonstrating how capable we were as a team. To be part of that, and to showcase yourself on that stage, was fantastic.[LNB]'I'm contracted to Fulham and that's the team I am at. We're in Europe again next season so there are going to be a lot of games. As far as I'm concerned, it's well within my capabilities to get into the team and I want another crack at it.[LNB]'I feel as if I start the season, and stay fit, there's no reason why I shouldn't stay in the team.[LNB]'The manager is the kind who'll start with a clean slate and he'll go with who' s done best in pre-season, that's what he did last year.[LNB]'Hopefully I can go back with renewed confidence and prove myself again to start the season on a high.'[LNB]  Trapattoni to make late decision on St Ledger ahead of crucial qualifierMcShane is proud of the green blood running through his veinsBad luck for the Irish as latecomers all lose and United ace Gibson is crocked [LNB]  Explore more:People: Mark Hughes, Stephen Kelly Places: Paris, Birmingham, Macedonia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil, Europe

Source: Daily_Mail