Manchester City Football Club News

• Nickname:Sky Blues
• Founded:1887
• Manager:Roberto Mancini

• Ground:City of Manchester Stadium
• Capacity:48,000

Ireland not ready to return

09 Oct 2007 - 16:29:52

Click To Enlarge

Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland has decided to withdraw from the Republic of Ireland squad for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Germany and Cyprus.

The news comes only one month after Ireland pulled out of Steve Staunton's squad for the qualifier against the Czech Republic.

Ireland initially claimed he had dropped out of the squad because his grandmother had died, but it later transpired that his partner had suffered a miscarriage.

"I have thought long and hard about whether I would do my country and myself justice if I joined up with the squad," Ireland told City's official website.

"Unfortunately, I don't believe I would on this occasion.

"The support I have received from Mr Staunton and the FAI has been excellent and everybody at Manchester City has also been superb.

"However, I do not believe I can make a positive contribution to our efforts to qualify."

City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson added: "This is disappointing for everybody. Steve Staunton and I have been working together to help Stephen through a period which he is clearly finding very difficult.

"We together have left no stone unturned in our efforts to convince him he has so much to offer his country and that international football will greatly benefit his long-term career.

"I hope that Stephen will soon feel stable enough to resume his international career."