Marc Wilson keen to get back for Ireland

Ireland defender Marc Wilson is hoping his Stoke City return will give him a chance to join Ireland's battle for a World cup place in Brazil in 2014.

The 25-year-old County Armagh born defender expects to be available for Stoke's game at Fulham next Saturday after four months out with a broken leg.

He revealed that Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has kept in touch during his injury absence, so he is hoping to force his way back into the manager's plans as Ireland try to qualify for next summer's World Cup in Brazil.

Wilson, who has three senior caps, said: "I need to get myself playing for Stoke first and foremost before I can even consider being selected for Ireland.

"Giovanni Trapattoni has texted me a few times to ask how I am getting on and said he hasn't forgotten me.

"That was good to hear, so if I can get myself right here hopefully I can get myself back in the international team.

"Ireland have a difficult game coming up against Sweden. It's a crucial match because they are one point ahead of us in the group after they got that magnificent result against Germany.

"It's going to be a very important game for us and I want to get myself back for it."

Wilson hoping for successful cup run

Ireland's Marc Wilson is pinning his hopes on a successful FA Cup campaign as he looks to overcome the heartache of missing last season's Wembley final show-piece.

The County Antrim born Irish international was a regular starter for Portsmouth under Avram Grant in a memorable run to the FA Cup Final which included the excellent 2-0 semi-final success against a strongly-fancied Tottenham Hotspur side at Wembley Stadium.

However, a hamstring injury suffered in Pompey's final Premier League game of the season against Everton brought his campaign to an end and subsequently scuppered his chances of featuring in main cup event of the English season.

"It was heartbreaking really, that's the only way I can describe it," he told stokecityfc.com. "To have played in all of the other games, including the semi final at Wembley, made it even harder for me.

"As a youngster, you grow up dreaming of walking up the stairs at Wembley to lift the FA Cup, and to have that chance taken away from you, just like I did last year, is gut-wrenching really.

He continued: "The FA Cup is an amazing competition to play in and it is still one I am dreaming about winning one day. I don't see why we can't achieve that here. We have a home game coming up and if we can come through that then we are in the last eight where anything can happen."

The 23-year old is refusing to get too carried away about the prospects of reaching the quarter finals for a second successive year, describing the upcoming encounter against League One high-fliers Brighton as an "extremely difficult challenge".

"It is a game of football, and in those 90 minutes anything is possible," he added. "This competition is famous and it is famous because strange things can happen. Teams who you don't think should have a chance can come out on top and we have to be wary of that.

"We have good players here and we are confident that if we play to our potential then we should win the game, but they will come here confident because they are doing very well this season. I have seen them a couple of times on television and I have been impressed with them."

Victory against the Seagulls would help cap off a memorable ten days for the youngster, who only last week stepped off the substitutes bench to make his senior debut for Ireland as they brushed aside Wales 3-0 in the opening game of the Carling Nations Cup.

"It was an extremely proud moment for me and obviously an occasion I will never ever forget. It was fantastic to play a part in the game because it is something I have wanted to do since I was a little boy," he commented in reflecting on his international debut.

"To have all my family and friends over there at the game made it even more special for me, and hopefully if I can continue doing the right things here at Stoke, which is my priority, then I will get more opportunities down the line to represent my country."

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Marc Wilson eager to take midfield chance

Irish international Marc Wilson believes he is ready to try and gate-crash Stoke’s central midfield between now and the end of the season.

But he admits the successful Rory Delap/Dean Whitehead combination may remain a tough nut to crack.

That pair recently enjoyed eight successive Premier League games on the trot, but an enforced reshuffle at Manchester United and an FA Cup tie against Cardiff has left Wilson starting the last two games to much acclaim.

“It is always good whenever the fans appreciate you,” said the 23-year-old Irishman from County Antrim, “and it was great that the manager should give me the shout to play.

“I hadn’t played a full 90 minutes before the game at Old Trafford, so after 80 minutes I was feeling it a little bit. But it was great to be out there.

“Every player obviously wants to be in the team every week if he can and hopefully I can do that, but to be fair to Rory and Dean have been doing really well.”

Wilson, who joined four months ago as part of the deal that took Dave Kitson to Portsmouth, has proved easy on the eye with his natural ability on the ball.

But he acknowledges there has been work to do on the defensive side of his game to meet the requirements demanded at Stoke.

“The manager has done a great job in getting all the players playing together,” he said, “and he likes the team really solid first and foremost.

“It has taken a bit of adjusting to for me, but I think I’m getting used to it now.”

WIlson has also attracted the interest of Ireland international manager Giovanni Trapattoni and may play some part in the upcoming Celtic cup game against Wales in Dublin next month. Wilson was drafted into the Ireland squad for their crucial European qualifying double-header against Russia and Slovakia last October, but failed to get off the bench on that occasion.

“I’ve been in the last few squads and I’d love to play for my country,” he said.

“Getting a game for Ireland would be an unbelievable achievement, but I think the manager wants all his players playing week in, week out for their clubs.”

Marc Wilson gets Trapattoni call-up

Stoke City defender Marc Wilson has been drafted into Giovanni Trapattoni’s Ireland squad ahead of their crucial European qualifying double-header against Russia and Slovakia.

Wilson from Aghagallon in County Antrim recently made a quick return to the Premiership after moving from cash strapped Portsmouth to Stoke City in a three million pounds deal in early September.

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis speaking at the time of Wilson’s move to The Potters said "He showed great maturity last season in what was a very difficult time for Portsmouth, so he will give us more competition for midfield places."

Wilson received his first international call up from Trapattoni in March this year when he was included in the squad for the glamour friendly against Brazil at the Emirates stadium in London. Speaking at the time of his first senior call-up Wilson said “It was always my dream to play for the Republic. I had grown up supporting them, Words could not describe my feeling when I heard about the call-up.”

Wilson has previously represented Ireland at u18, u19 and u21 levels.

Shay Given backs Wilson & Duffy's decision to play for Ireland

Shay Given has backed the FAI's policy of recruiting players born in the North of Ireland who are willing to commit their international future to the Ireland team.

And the Donegal man, who revealed that he was eligible to play for Northern Ireland as his late mother was born in the six counties, says that players should be allowed to make up their own minds on their international futures without being forced into a decision by officials from the IFA.

Given has welcomed the arrival of players like Marc Wilson from Antrim and Shane Duffy from Derry on the scene for Ireland.

"I could have played for Northern Ireland as my mum was from Castlederg in Tyrone, so it's up to the players," says Given, who was born in Lifford, Co Donegal, less than a mile across the border from Stranbane in Tyrone.

"As far as I am aware, it's up to the players to choose who they want to play for and I think it's great they want to pick Ireland," added Given.

Wilson defends a players right to represent Ireland

Portsmouth and Ireland defender Marc Wilson has insisted players born in the North of Ireland should be allowed to decide whether they want to represent Ireland or the North at international level.

Wilson, named in the Ireland squad for Tuesday's friendly against Brazil, is from Aghagallon in County Antrim.

"I think you should have the choice," said Wilson. "I made it clear I wanted to play for the Republic”.

"It was always my dream to play for the Republic. I grew up supporting them."

"It should be down to the player to make that decision and that should be it."

Ireland take on Brazil, the favourites for this summer's World Cup at Arsenal's Emirates stadium on Tuesday night.

"It is tough competition in the Ireland squad but I am just happy to be here. Hopefully, I can progress further in the future.

"Words could not describe my feeling when I heard about the call-up," he added.

"Brazil are the best team in the world in my opinion. Their record speaks for itself. It is a great game to be involved in and anyone would be proud to be involved in it."

Tuesday's game at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium is the first of four for Ireland before they kick off their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, for which they have been drawn against Russia, Slovakia, Macedonia, Armenia and Andorra.

Marc Wilson Sunderland bound ?

Portsmouth star Marc Wilson is in the middle of a bitter war between the cashstrapped club and the Premier League.

The Premier League have blocked the young Irish centre half's £4million move to Sunderland but Pompey are still looking at ways of pulling off the club-saving transfer and may even appeal to FIFA.

Pompey have been stunned by the decision to pull the rug from deals that could rescue them from oblivion.

Their appeal to be allowed to flog players outside the transfer window caused uproar at rival topflight clubs. Even though there is a precedent for clubs 'in distress' to operate outside the window, Premier League chairmen demanded that the proposal was strangled at birth.

Pompey argue that Sunderland are ready to complete the transfer the moment they are given the go-ahead - and claim it is necessity if they are to pay this month's salaries.

If the Wilson move ultimately gets the go-ahead, it will be the signal for a string of departures from Fratton Park with several players expected to be sold.

The debt-ridden south coast club are keen to offload England keeper David James, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Nadir Belhadj in a desperate bid to raise cash to settle a £12m tax bill.

Marc Wilson extends Portsmouth stay

Ireland international Marc Wilson has committed his future to Portsmouth by signing a new three-and-a-half-year deal with the club.

The 22-year-old Co. Antrim born defender came through the ranks at Fratton Park and has established himself in the Pompey first-team this season.

The Premier League strugglers have been beset by financial problems this season, which have forced many players to move on, but Wilson insists he is happy on the South Coast.

"I've always wanted to stay at Pompey," he told the club's official website.

"This is my seventh year here and I really enjoy it.

"The fans are great and I couldn't imagine playing anywhere else."

Wilson spent two spells on loan at Bournemouth before making his first-team breakthrough for Pompey last season and the Irishman has made 22 appearances this term.

"I've really enjoyed playing first-team football this season and learning from some very experienced players," he added.

"There are a lot of good players here and even just training alongside them has helped me improve my game."

Celtic move for Ireland's Marc Wilson

Celtic have launched a loan bid to take Portsmouth defender Marc Wilson on loan for the rest of the season.

Tony Mowbray is keen to land the former Ireland under-21 international for the second half of the season.

The Hoops were also in for Arsenal defender Philipe Senderos but believe he is now out of their reach and have now turned their attentions to Pompey’s young Irish rising star Wilson.

Celtic wouldn’t have a chance of landing the County Antrim born 22-year-old under normal circumstances but they are hoping Portsmouth’s horrendous financial predicament will allow them to push the deal through.

Contact has already been made and the early indications are that the Premiership strugglers would prefer to sell rather than loan out their £2.5 million-rated star.

Wilson, who can play anywhere across the back or as a holding midfielder, is a regular in Avrum Grant’s team but would consider a move to the SPL as the financial uncertainty continues over his South Coast club.

The latest takeover has seen Portsmouth fail to pay their wages on time and they have also been banned from signing any players until they pay of all their outstanding debts.

Wilson, who has made 18 top-team appearances this season, has been as Portsmouth for four years after he quit Manchester United’s youth academy.

His impressive recent from for Pompey has brought him to the attention of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni and Wilson may figure in Ireland's European Championship campaign, which starts later in the year.

It’s a far cry from the early years when he started his football career with the under nines at Lurgan Town and went on to play for the under 10s and under 11s.

His displays in the Lisburn League caught the eye of a Manchester United scout and he travelled over with other youngsters for coaching.

Up until 15 he was with United but then was told he did not make the height needed although since then he has grown to six feet two inches.

Then a West Ham scout, who was a good friend of Harry Redknapp, recommended Marc to Harry who had taken over as manager of Portsmouth.

Despite attracting interest from other clubs such as Blackburn, Sunderland, Tottenham and Middlesboro Marc was impressed with the set-up at Portsmouth.

In July 2004 he signed for the club and it was on September 24, 2008 he made his Premiership debut against Chelsea.

An all round player who can play anywhere he was marked down as a central defender by the former Arsenal and England captain Tony Adams during his time at Portsmouth.

Last season was plagued by injuries but now back to full fitness Marc has established a place for himself in the first team squad, making 24 appearances this season.

During his early years he was also an accomplished gaelic player with the St Mary’s club in Aghagallon and the school teams.