Stephen Hunt has said that there would be 'a riot' if Stephen Ireland only decided to return to the Republic Of Ireland set-up for the World Cup Finals.
Reading star Hunt is clearly unimpressed with the Manchester City midfielder, who has not played for his country since concocting a story about the death of his grandmother in 2007.
On the subject of whether Ireland would return for a possible appearance in the Finals, Hunt told the Sunday Independent: "I'm sure Stephen Ireland wouldn't do that, you'd want to be very sure of yourself to do that.
"I don't think it would be healthy, that wouldn't go down well but then again we want the best players in the squad."
Hunt admits is getting bored with the constant speculation about the Manchester City midfielder.
"I think it's up to one man to come out and clarify the situation, to give someone an indication, whether it's that he'll play next year or in three games' time.
"But it seems like Stephen is just sitting there and not helping anyone. He needs to clarify it and ease the pressure so we know what he's going to do. Then it's up to the manager to pick him."
Hot property James McCarthy is ready to snub a mega move this summer - after insisting he won't leave Hamilton to sit on the sidelines of a bigger club.
The 18-year-old Irish u21 midfielder admits money talks and Accies could look to cash in if one of his many admirers were to lodge a lucrative bid But the level-headed star insists he will only move on if he is guaranteed a top-flight game every week - and he knows that won't happen. As prepared for today' visit of SPL leaders Rangers, McCarthy, left, said: "I'm really happy where I am. I'll just have to wait and see what happens in the summer.
"I know that if someone comes in and the club accept an offer then you need to sit down and talk with the club and those around you who give you decent advice.
"But I'm happy to be playing week in week out in the SPL.
"I wouldn't be pleased just sitting in the stands or playing in the reserves. That's not going to do my career any good.
"I'm happy to get as many games as I can at the top, keep improving and see what happens from there.
I'm very content at the moment."
To enhance that point, McCarthy is desperate for Billy Reid to remain his manager next season.
The Ireland Under-21 international reckons the Accies boss will also be a wanted man when the campaign ends because of the success he has enjoyed in his debut season in the SPL.
McCarthy said: "I definitely don't want the gaffer to go anywhere because he gave me my chance and has been so influential in my development.
"There is so much still to do and I really want to continue working with him.
"I hope the manager stays. It's only natural that a successful boss will have clubs looking at him but this is a great club."
Accies are just a point off the top six and 10 ahead of bottom club Inverness. Having been promoted to the top flight only last summer, it is no surprise McCarthy is looking over his shoulder rather than up at the stars.
He said: "We are on a good wee run but are not going to get too carried away.
"We'll keep our feet on the ground and make sure our priority is to stay in this league.
"We're not thinking about the top six and we let other people do all the talking.
"Our target this season is just to stay in the SPL."
Ireland midfielder Darron Gibson can't wait to get his first taste of playing at Wembley, when Manchester United face Spurs in the Carling Cup final, this Sunday.
The gifted 21-year-old whose place in the starting line-up for this weekend looks assured, after manager Sir Alex Ferguson admitted that he had earned his place following a man of the match display in the recent FA Cup win over Derby County.
"Darron Gibson did really well on Sunday," said Ferguson following the match at Pride Park.
"He has got into the Carling Cup final team with that performance. He has played in every round, so he deserves it."
Nevertheless the modest Gibson, talking prior to Tuesday’s Champions League encounter with Inter Milan were he was on the bench, is just taking everything in his stride.
"Obviously I and everyone at the club is concentrating on the Inter game, but I know later in the week everyone will be buzzing for the cup," he said.
"Personally if I get the chance to play at Wembley then it will be unbelievable, but even though the manager said something after the Derby match about me starting in the cup final, he hasn't said anything to me."
"I can't wait until Sunday now, I'm really looking forward to it" said Darron. "If I start the game it will be the highlight of my career, make no mistake about that, but it will all count for nothing if we don't win the trophy.
"I've never been to Wembley, but I don't think I will be intimidated. I've played at Croke Park with the Republic of Ireland and at Old Trafford with United and both hold just as many supporters as Wembley does".
"I've had a good run in the Carling Cup this season, having played in every game and I'm really looking forward to playing in the final. It will be my first big final so it will be great to be part of it.
"But, to be honest, I would understand if I didn't start and the 'gaffer' chose to go with a stronger team, but I would also be extremely disappointed if I didn't play a part in the game."
Manager Alex Ferguson has talked about the Competition for places in the centre of Uniteds midfield
"The young ones who have played in the League Cup will play in it," said Ferguson. "I'm not changing my mind on that one.
"The middle of midfield is my biggest problem. I've got more options there than anywhere else.
"I've got Anderson, Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick and young Darron Gibson who is coming on in leaps and bounds. It gives me headaches, but more options."
The young midfielder's mother and father John and Liz are making the trip from Derry to Wembley.
In fact it seems over a dozen family and friends are all going to cheer on their boy.
"I have heard quite a few people are making the trip over from the city, so hopefully I can give them something to cheer about."
Having really started to break into the current European and World Club Champions side this season, the Hazelbank lad has played in a number of positions, but a place in centre midfield looks to be his spot on Sunday.
"Obviously you don't mind playing in whatever position the manager tells you as long as you are playing, but I played well enough in the Derby game because I won the man of the match award, so I think if I do start on Sunday then I'll be in there."
Gibby, like every player on the Old Trafford books states that the manager gives him and all the squad the belief that they are good enough to play for the biggest club in the world.
"The manager has won everything in the game so if he has faith in you, which he has shown not just to me but a lot of the other younger players in the Carling Cup then that can only help you," concluded the Derry man.
Sheffield United have signed Watford & Ireland U21 midfielder John Joe O'Toole on loan for the rest of the season.
The 20-year-old, who has scored eight goals this season, could make his debut in Sunday's clash with Birmingham.
O'Toole said: "I'm just delighted to come up here. I jumped at the opportunity."
"I just want to do my best here and hopefully put a few in the net and see what happens," added the Ireland Under-21 international.
O'Toole was rumoured to be a January transfer window target for Championship leaders Wolves prior to Christmas.
But he has fallen out of favour at Vicarage Road, having not started a league game for Watford since being substituted at half time in the 4-2 home defeat to Bristol City on Boxing Day.
He will not be available for the Blades' FA Cup fifth round replay against Hull City on Thursday night as he is cup tied
Motherwell winger Jim O'Brien is determined to break into the Ireland senior squad - even if he suffers the same abuse dished out to James McCarthy & Aidan McGeady.
The Fir Park winger has, like Hamilton rival McCarthy, opted to represent Ireland on the international stage.
Jim lived with his grandad John, who moved to Scotland at 18, for a decade before his death in 2000. From that moment the ex-Celtic kid vowed to play for Ireland and has represented ‘The Boys In Green’ at U19 & U21 levels.
Now a regular for Motherwell, O'Brien believes he can catch the eye of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni and force his way into the Italian's plans for the future.
If he succeeds, Jim is likely to face the same sectarianism endured every week by Hamilton wonderkid James McCarthy, from fans who seem intent on bringing shame on the SPL.
But the 21-year-old insists he's ready for anything the bigots throw at him if it means a call-up.
Jim said: "The international scene has never left my mind. I believe I can make the Ireland set-up but it's about playing consistently well here, If I'm playing every week here I don't see why I can't break in to the squad. There are guys in the Irish league who have been capped and the SPL is a better standard.
"The stick James gets is poor. But if fans believe they can put someone off their game they'll do it. I used to get abuse warming-up at Ibrox but you have to get on with it. It doesn't seem to bother James because he is doing well. And if I get stick, it won't bother me".
"I've made a decision I'm willing to stick to. I had a great connection with my grandad and wanted to play for him after he died. Hopefully a cap will come."
After a slow start at Fir Park, O'Brien is now starting to fulfil the potential he showed at Celtic. He was tipped to make an impact in Gordon Strachan's side but the breakthrough never came. O'Brien spent time on loan at Dunfermline two years ago and helped them reach the Scottish Cup Final against the Hoops.
He was devastated when Strachan refused him permission to play at Hampden because of fears he wouldn't be accepted by Celtic fans if he'd prevented them winning the trophy.
O’Brien said: "The cup final was probably the end of my Celtic career. You want to play on the big occasions but I didn't get the chance at Hampden. Gordon didn't want me to miss out but after thinking it through, he changed his mind".
"I might have been the difference that day because it was a tight game that Celtic won 1-0. Gordon said I could hardly play in the cup final, do something against them, then go back and expect to get in the team. I don't hold grudges. But last season I didn't get a fair crack of the whip at Celtic".
"There were cup games where I felt I could have played and people were telling me my chance was coming. Aiden McGeady was suspended for an Old Firm match and I was tipped to start. Sadly Phil O'Donnell died and the game was postponed. But I got a clean break by coming here and want to do well."
O'Brien is adamant he can help the Steelmen put a serious dent in Celtic's title hopes today on Fir Park's dodgy pitch.
Jim said: "We can have a say in the title race by getting results against Rangers and Celtic, especially on that pitch.
"We're on a good run and Celtic have hit a sticky patch. I want to show what they missed out on."
Irish midfielder Keith Fahey admits that he is stunned with how quickly Birmingham City fans have turned him into a St Andrew’s star.
Despite having only played a handful of games for his new club, Fahey already seems to be held in high regard by Birmingham supporters. Little over two months ago, the Dubliner was unknown to even the most ardent of Blues fans, yet internet groups in his honour have already sprouted up - including one that takes a swipe at local rivals Villa called: ‘Keith Fahey is better than Gareth Barry’.
His first goal in English football, described as ‘Messi-like’ by Blues boss Alex McLeish and ‘a fluke’ by Fahey himself, last weekend further heightened his reputation in the blue half of Birmingham. And having spent several seasons at St Pat’s Athletic and Drogheda United in the League of Ireland, the modest midfielder admits to being taken aback by the early attention.
“I am a bit surprised, I’ve done alright,” said 26-year-old Fahey. “In the games I’ve come on, I’ve made an impact, I’ve done OK in the games I’ve played and the fluke goal did me favours.
“The fans haven’t seen a lot of me, they’ve only seen me play in a few near-full games and a few substitute appearances so it’s nice. They’re probably just looking out for someone new".
Hamilton prodigy James McCarthy polished his credentials as one of Scottish football's best young talents again at Falkirk on Saturday with a moment of magic to help Accies take all three points.
The 18-year-old midfielder, who has been capped at under-21 level for Ireland, picked up the young player of the month award for January and has carried on his good form as Billy Reid's side continue their unlikely progress up the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.
With 15 minutes remaining at The Falkirk Stadium, and the game tied at 1-1, McCarthy set up Paul McGowan to score the winning goal with the most delicate of chipped passes.
Reid, who seems to have spent almost every week of the club's first season in the SPL praising the youngster, was left once again grasping for superlatives.
"In the last eight or nine weeks he has been fantastic," Reid said.
"In every game he plays he produces a bit of skill.
"His pass and movement with McGowan for the goal was fantastic.
"He is sublime at times but he works back the way as well. His consistency for a young player is astonishing."
Accies defender Chris Swailes, who scored an almost comical own goal to gift Falkirk the lead before Simon Mensing spared his blushes by grabbing the equaliser, was the latest team-mate of McCarthy to predict big things for the teenager.
"He is a promising lad and I think he will hit the heights," the Englishman said.
"Whether he stays in Scotland remains to be seen but the world is his oyster.
"I imagine Hamilton's problem will be holding on to him.
"As long as he is playing well for us then that is great but there will be a few people knocking on the door."
Tipped as relegation candidates before the season kicked off, Hamilton find themselves fighting for a top-six spot after a sticky start and Reid praised his players for adapting to the rigours of the SPL.
"It has taken us to halfway through the season to learn to win games and now we are doing that regularly," he said.
There will be no place for Cillian Sheridan in the Motherwell attack against Celtic on Sunday – the young Irishman is on loan from the club and cannot play against them – but that could work against the Parkhead side, according to Mark McGhee.
The Motherwell manager said: "To be truthful, if Cillian had been OK to turn out I would probably have played 4-4-2 with him and David Clarkson up front.
"But now I'll maybe leave Clarkson on his own and as a result we should be a bit stuffier. The fact that we can't play him might not help Celtic."
There is no official rule about loan players being prohibited from facing their main employers, but Scottish clubs observe a self-denying ordinance. "If Sheridan played against us it would be an awful lot of pressure on him," said Gordon Strachan, the Celtic manager.
"What if he got a penalty kick in the last minute and cost us points? Or what if he fouled in the Motherwell box and we got a last-minute winner from that?"
Strachan, though, believes that Motherwell pose considerable threat even without Sheridan. "They weren't doing well earlier in the season but that's because Mark had a lot of players missing from a small squad. Since they've come back you can see the difference in Motherwell's form – they're on a run now and we have to be very careful."
More than two years after he was first called into the Ireland squad by Steve Staunton, Preston North End defender Sean St Ledger is still waiting for his first international cap.
And while the centre-half has admitted his frustration at being left out in the cold under Giovanni Trapattoni, he has dismissed suggestions that he is about to turn his back on Ireland and throw in his lot with Northern Ireland.
The 24-year-old has been a mainstay in defence for a Preston side who are in fourth place in the Championship table and has earned widespread praise for his defensive displays.
But the FAI have yet to come calling again for St Ledger, who qualified for Ireland through his Carlow-born grandfather, and some fans at Deepdale were surprised when young full back Eddie Nolan was called into the Irish squad for the recent World Cup qualifier against Georgia as defensive cover ahead of St Ledger.
"I am frustrated and disappointed that my chance with Ireland hasn't come yet, but I will just have to be patient and wait for my chance if it comes along," St Ledger told the Evening Herald.
"But there is no chance of me turning away from Ireland and looking to play for Northern Ireland, one or two people mentioned it to me but it's not in my mind. My allegiance is to Ireland and no one else, I don't just want to get international caps for anyone, I want to play for Ireland so there's no chance of me playing for anyone else.
"An international career with Ireland would be amazing for me, but sometimes you can't get too hung up on these things and sometimes they happen when you least expect them, that was the case when I was first in the Ireland squad three years ago, the call came from nowhere and maybe I'll get that call out of the blue again someday.
"Giovanni Trapattoni and his staff know where I am and where I play, they have been to see us play and they were impressed with Eddie Nolan when they saw him play for Preston, I just hope I get a chance to catch the eye again."
St Ledger, who made his name with Peterborough United before a move to Preston in 2006, was briefly involved with the Ireland U21 side under Don Givens but was never capped and his first real taste of international football was when Steve Staunton caused a major surprise by adding the Preston man to his senior squad for the opening game of the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.
Just months earlier he had been playing in England's fourth division (League Two) but in September 2006 St Ledger was on the bench for Ireland's 1-0 defeat in Stuttgart against Germany - the man next in line for the central defensive positions if anything had happened to first-choice centre halves Richard Dunne and Andy O'Brien - and was also a sub for the qualifiers against Cyprus and the Czech Republic.
But since then there's been nothing, and like other players who emerged into prominence in the Staunton era (Jon Douglas, Alan O'Brien, Jay Tabb, Darren Potter), there has been no involvement with the national team under Trapattoni.
"It's disappointing not to get the call but I will wait my turn," he adds. "I'm not the only one who has been left out, I think our striker here Stephen Elliott should be in the Ireland squad as well. We have four Irish players here: myself, Stephen, Wayne Henderson and Eddie Nolan, it would be great for the club to have all four of us in the squad.
"We might get a chance in the summer, Ireland have that game against Nigeria in London in May and then the qualifier in Bulgaria in June, by that stage some of the Premier League players might be injured or unavailable so I have to make sure I am fit and ready if the call does come.
"Ireland don't have too many central defenders at the moment. Richard Dunne and John O'Shea seem to be the men in possession, Paul McShane can play there as well but we don't have too many after that so I hope I can be next in line when Ireland need a centre half," added St Ledger, who was first made aware of his eligibility for Ireland when he lined out for Peterborough alongside Irish boys like Killian Brennan, Neale Fenn and John O'Flynn.
"I have been happy with my form this season. We have been good defensively and kept a few clean sheets in the last while, but we can do better and certainly out away form can improve".
Ireland international Stephen Hunt is confident that new signing, and fellow Irishman Jay Tabb will play a key role for Reading between now and the end of the season.
Tabb, a £600,000 Coventry City signing is yet to even make the bench under boss Steve Coppell but Hunt sees the diminutive player as the main threat for his position now that Bobby Convey has left the club to sign for San Jose Earthquakes.
“Bobby has gone and I wish him well but Jay is more of a threat now,” explained Hunt.
“He comes in, puts in his shift in training and has done well.
“He can play left or right wing, central midfield or behind the striker so it’s good competition for me. I know I feel him breathing down my neck. It’s good to have that.
“He’s a very good player. He was Player of the Year at Coventry and at Brentford where I played with him so I know all about him.
“I think he could play a big part in the remaining games if he does get his chance. We’re also looking for a big impact from Jimmy Kebe, me and the two strikers.”
And Hunt also quipped: “I know all about Jay’s golf abilities as well. He’s a very good player with a lovely, picturesque swing so I’ll be keeping my money in my pocket. Whether he’s got the bottle on the greens I’m not too sure.”
Irishman Willo Flood insists he will not not take a place in the Celtic team for granted, despite being handed his debut in the Old Firm derby.
Flood started Sunday's goalless Clydesdale Bank Premier League draw at Parkhead only two weeks after joining his boyhood idols.
The 23-year-old Dublin born midfielder - who spent 18 months on loan at Dundee United before parent club Cardiff agreed to sell him to Celtic - knows the quality of the squad the Scottish champions possess means he can never rest on his laurels.
He said: "The standard of players in the squad is what I expected.
"I've played against Celtic often enough to know how good guys like Scott Brown, Paul Hartley and Barry Robson are. It's competitive in training but that's because we all want to play.
"All the players have a winning streak in them. There is a lot of talent in this squad, but that's what life at a big club is like. We are all fighting for places in the team.
"I just want to work hard in training and hopefully catch the manager's eye. I want to get a few more games before the end of the season and hopefully help bring the title back to Celtic Park."
Sunday's result left leaders Celtic two points clear of arch-rivals Rangers and Flood knows there is all to play for in the SPL run-in.
"This is a crucial stage of the season, but I think we all know that it's time to stand up, be counted and take it home from here," he said. "There are 13 games to go and we need to push on.
"We have the quality in the squad to do that and I think the spirit is there as well.
"There's a good camaraderie between the boys and we are all chasing the same goal.
"Fingers crossed, we can have a successful end to the season."
Celtic will find themselves playing catch-up for the first time since November if Rangers beat Kilmarnock on Saturday.
The champions travel to Motherwell 24 hours later and Flood believes Mark McGhee's in-form side are capable of derailing the Hoops' title bid.
"I'm preparing for a really hard game on Sunday," Flood said.
"I rate Motherwell highly as a team and I wouldn't be surprised if they made a late charge for third place.
"They will definitely be up there challenging come the end of the season because they have a great squad and a good manager. They are hitting form at exactly the right time."
Much has been made of the appalling state of Motherwell's Fir Park pitch and Celtic have hinted it may influence team selection this weekend.
Flood told Celtic View: "I just hope the Fir Park pitch is better than it's been over the past year.
"At times last season, it was like playing on St Andrew's beach but hopefully that won't be the case on Sunday."
Kevin Doyle has spoken of the importance of getting three points against Bulgaria in next months crucial World Cup Group 8 qualifier in Croke Park.
Doyle helped Ireland join Italy at the top of their World Cup qualifying group following last week’s 2-1 win over Georgia.
Trapattoni’s men now face a home match against Bulgaria at the end of next month before facing a trip to Italy four days later.
Doyle said: “We will look to get a win at home and then whatever we can get away, but we need to keep the pressure on by beating Bulgaria.
“Top goes straight through and the second goes into a play-off which is tough. If we can get a win against Bulgaria it means it’s virtually impossible for them to catch us.”And Doyle says being named Ireland’s Player of the Year is an honour.
The Reading and Ireland striker was last week named the FAI’s top man for his heroics in 2008.
And he now has a crucial role in his country’s bid to qualify for the 2010 World Cup and has played in every competitive game under Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni.
Doyle said: “I was up against Shay Given and John O’Shea so I am very happy to win because that is stiff competition. I am delighted with it. It’s a real honour.
“John has won a Champions League and Shay Given is one of the busiest and best keepers in the league. They have both played well for Ireland and I won’t forget this in a hurry.
“It is nice to win because the people who have won the award before have been pretty good.”
Doyle suffered a miserable season with Reading last year as the club were relegated from the Premier League, but he has bounced back to form during this campaign.
He added: “My year wasn’t fantastic with Reading because of relegation, but I did pretty well for Ireland and the last six months for Reading has been pretty good.
“It is nice to be recognised by other people and have them think I am doing well. The press in Ireland obviously think I did a decent job, so that is good, especially considering who I was up against.”
Thomond Park in Limerick is set to host the Ireland football team for two international friendlies over the next 12 months.
FAI officials are close to finalising an agreement to play at the Limerick venue on the 12 August.
And FAI chief Executive John Delaney is also in talks with Munster Rugby about playing a second match at the stadium next spring.
'The Aviva Stadium is where we'll play all our internationals going forward but there's a window of opportunity now to play some games in Thomond Park,' said Delaney.
'It's a wonderful facility and will also facilitate some of our supporters in the Munster and Connacht areas.'
Steve Coppell believes Kevin Doyle ranks as one of his best-ever signings during his 25-year managerial career.
Royals’ 17-goal leading scorer was last week named Ireland’s Player of the Year for 2008.
Doyle arrived at Madejski Stadium in the summer of 2005 as an unknown from Cork City for a fee of just £78,000.
In the season that followed he helped fire Reading to the title and he has so far netted 55 goals in 137 starts, plus 14 substitute appearances.
Coppell has unearthed plenty of unpolished gems in his time, the most famous being Ian Wright from non-league football when he was in charge of Crystal Palace in the 80s.
Wright went on to become an Arsenal legend and an England international.
But Royals’ boss reckons Doyle is just as good a signing.
He told the Evening Post: “He is definitely right up there with the best of them, because of his character as well as ability.
“I would never say one is a better signing than another, but his contribution and commitment, in an age when it is easy to think the grass is greener on the other side, is terrific.”
Doyle is now a key player for his country. He has started every competitive match under new boss Giovanni Trapattoni, including the Republic’s 2-1 win over Georgia in a World Cup qualifier at Croke Park last week.
And Coppell believes he is a worthy winner of Ireland’s Player of the Year.
Royals’ boss added: “I think it is recognition by the Irish who voted for him.
“At Reading we have a strong Irish influence. I am sure a lot of Irish people watch our games and they will see his unflinching dedication and commitment.
“He is a player who has come from their domestic league and who has, right from day one, seized the opportunity with enthusiasm and ability. There are times he could have been a prima donna but he has continued to play his football in an exceptional manner for his country and club.
“He has often been used as a lone player up front for his country and is expected to cover a million miles.
“But he does it without complaining. During and after games he is 100 per cent committed and he continues to be a success.
“He is the kind of player managers and coaches dream about in an age where agents have a lot of influence and there are a lot of other agendas.
“He just gets on with the job. If he has missed any training sessions I could count them on the finger of one hand since he has been with us. There are not many players like him.”
Burnley boss Owen Coyle believes goalscoring hero Chris McCann is already good enough to play in the Premiership.
The Ireland under 21 international netted the winner against Wolves at the weekend to keep alive Burnley's hopes of pushing into the play-offs and Coyle was delighted with the Dubliner.
Coyle said: "It was a terrific piece of football for the goal; a great cross from Wade Elliott and Chris McCann does what he does best, arriving in the box and it's a great finish.
"I've said before I think Chris McCann could step in and play in the Premier League tomorrow. Having worked with him, he's getting better all the time.
"He's one of a group of players we have that have shown they can stand toe-to-toe with the very best players that are going about."
The Dublin born midfielder has had a fractious relationship with Ireland u21 manager Don Givens, however with his exceptional club form for Burnley this season, a call-up to Giovanni Trapattoni's senior squad may be a distinct possibility.
In 2007 McCann opted out of the Irish U21 squad to play Bulgaria two hours prior to kick-off claiming he was wasting his time having been selected on the bench. An indication of how this may affect his future in the Irish set up was provided when U21 manager Don Givens was asked if he would pick him again and he replied "Will I pick him again? Would you?" Givens later apolgised adding "I take it back, its nice to see Chris developing into a player of true class"
Irish central midfielder Darron Gibson played a major role in Man United's comfortable 4-1 win over Derby in the FA Cup fifth round today and Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed the Irishman's display cemented his place in the Reds' Carling Cup final team.
Gibson was named man of the match after scoring United's second goal in a classy midfield display, and Ferguson revealed the 21-year-old will definitely line up against Tottenham on March 1.
The Reds boss told MUTV: "We’ve been trying to test him in games and his performance today earned him a place in the Carling Cup final. He’s featured in all the games in the competition and deserves to play against Spurs, but today he confirmed his position there."
Derry born Gibson represented Ireland at u17, u19, u21 and ‘b’ international level before making his senior debut against Denmark in August 2007. He made his first senior start against Cyprus in a World Cup qualifier in October 2008, when he partnered Glenn Whelan in central midfield.
Cillian Sheridan added an Ireland U21 cap to a list of achievements from this season which included Champions League football and his debut SPL goal for Celtic.
But the County Cavan striker admits that he has a long way to go before he can find his way into Giovanni Trapattoni's senior squad at international level.
Sheridan, who played the full 90 minutes in Motherwell's 1-0 win over Hamilton today, after his loan move from Celtic, made his U21 debut in Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Germany in Cork and the 19-year-old played a role as Ireland came from a goal down and earned a creditable draw against a more experienced German side.
"The senior Ireland squad is a long way away for me even though I've had a decent run in the Celtic team this season and a bit of exposure with those games in the Champions League against Manchester United," says the Ulster man.
"There is so much competition up front with Ireland now, you have Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle as the established two up front. But then you have a lot of people who are fighting to get a run, lads like Shane Long and Noel Hunt, who have done very well for their clubs and played for Ireland already.
"There are also people who can't even get into the senior Ireland squad now, lads like Anthony Stokes, so up front there are a lot of people looking to play for Ireland and only two can start, so I know I am down the pecking order.
"But if I can prove myself to Mr Trapattoni at U21 level and get a few goals for my club, then he might take notice. But I know I have a lot of work to do.
"There is a chance there with Ireland. Trapattoni is in contact with Don Givens to know how the U21 players are doing and there are a lot of young players in the senior squad already.
"I think I need to take a step backwards so I can get forward and that's the case with my loan move to Motherwell.
"I need to go and prove that I can play on a weekly basis, because I've had such a bad run with injuries, and then go and do that for Celtic," added Sheridan, who was relieved to finally make his debut for the Irish U21s in that draw against Germany, over a year after he was first called into the U21 panel by Don Givens.
"It was nice to get the debut out of the way, good to have under my belt. I have been in the U21 squad for the last year or so but because of injuries I wasn't able to come over and play -- thankfully I've managed to do that now," he says. "I have missed a lot of football with Ireland due to all my injuries. I think the last time I played was with the U19s in Dublin last year, when we played Germany.
"So Tuesday in Cork was a good result for us. Germany are a good side, they have players with all the top clubs in Germany, their lads have played in the Bundesliga, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup and most of our players don't have that experience."
Sheridan is now in his third season of first team football, having made his Celtic debut in March 2007, just two days after his 18th birthday. Last season was a write-off for the former Belvedere player as he managed just one appearance for Celtic due to injuries, but he emerged earlier this season due to a shortage of senior strikers at Parkhead, Sheridan making 16 first team appearances including two Champions League outings against Manchester United.
The return from injury of Strachan's crocked strikers has pushed Sheridan down the ladder so he's been sent out on loan to Mark McGhee's Motherwell to gain experience.
"It's a good move for me as it's a chance to get games, which I might not have been able to do at Celtic because the squad is so big," Sheridan says.
"I know I still have a future at Celtic and I think the staff there will be watching me at Motherwell. Hopefully I can have a good four months at Motherwell, score a few goals, have a good break over the summer and go back to Parkhead fresh for the new season."
Andy Reid has pledged to fight his way back into the Ireland side, after admitting that watching Wednesday’s victory over Georgia was one of toughest moments of his career.
Reid was dropped from Giovanni Trapattoni’s Ireland squad last autumn, amid suggestions he had fallen out with the Italian manager over his role in the team.
He failed to win his place back ahead of this week’s World Cup qualifier with Georgia, and appears destined for a lengthy spell in the international wilderness.
But while Trapattoni appears to have closed the door on Reid’s international ambitions, the Sunderland midfielder insists he remains desperate to return to the ranks.
And having played his way back into the Black Cats team in recent weeks, the former Charlton and Tottenham playmaker is eyeing another international outing in the not-too-distant future.
“I watched the match on Wednesday and it was hard to watch,” said Reid, who has won 27 caps since making his debut against Canada in 2003.
“I would love to be involved.
“I’m always available to play for Ireland, any time they want me to play they know where I am. I would love to be involved. I’m always available.
“If they pick me, I will always do everything I can for the green shirt because I always give my all for Ireland whenever I pull it on. I have always been so proud to do that and nothing has changed.
“All I can do is keep going.
I’ve set up a few goals recently, and hopefully I’ll get the call.”
Ireland winger Aiden McGeady is determined not to let the chance of a trip to the World Cup finals slip from his grasp.
The 22-year-old Celtic winger turned in an excellent individual display as Giovanni Trapattoni's side drew level on points with Group Eight leaders Italy with a 2-1 win over Georgia at Croke Park on Wednesday evening.
Ireland had to come from behind to secure a third win in four qualifiers as they took their tally to 10 points, but for McGeady, the victory rather than the performance was what mattered most.
He said: "The result was the most important thing. Not to win would have undone all the good work in the first three games of the campaign.
"Now we are on 10 points, level with Italy, and we have given ourselves a great platform to go on and qualify.
"There is still a lot of football to be played. There's always room for improvement, but we are playing some good football as well."
Giovanni Trapattoni has told Aiden McGeady he is expecting even more from him as Ireland's World Cup qualifying campaign gathers pace.
Trapattoni was delighted with his contribution to a priceless win, although he is confident there is even more to come from the midfielder.
He said: 'McGeady was very, very important, but he can improve again. With more confidence, he has the impossibilty to improve.
'He has two very good legs. After the first half, I said to him, 'Believe in yourself, believe in yourself, believe in yourself'.
'He became more and more confident and he has the possibility to grow.'
If McGeady's performance, coupled with skipper Robbie Keane's lethal finishing, won the day for Ireland, Trapattoni was particularly pleased with the way his players stuck to the blueprint he has drawn up for lasting success.
His desire to play two combative players in the middle of the park has proved detrimental to Andy Reid's international career, but it has made Glenn Whelan a key member of the team.
James McCarthy insists there is no chance of him believing his own hype as long as he remains at Hamilton.
The 18-year-old Irish U21 international midfielder has been in top form recently and was rewarded for those displays with his second successive Clydesdale Bank Young Player of the Month award.
It was a hat-trick for the Lanarkshire club, with boss Billy Reid and goalkeeper Tomas Cerny picking up the Manager and senior Player gongs - the first time all three prizes have gone to one club since Rangers enjoyed a clean sweep in September 2003.
There is no doubt McCarthy continues to claim most of the credit with his flashes of individual brilliance.
But he claims he is in no danger of getting carried away by the constant praise or the persistent speculation over his future.
He said: "I'm happy to stay here and work away and get good experience playing every week in the SPL.
"I've got the older lads, like Mark McLaughlin and Alex Neil, who help me keep my feet on the ground.
"The gaffer too. If I ever get too big for my boots, he will bring me back down again.
"It's great to win the award, it's fantastic. But I think anyone could have won it because we have been great this month."
Accies are on an impressive winning streak of six games in all competitions, largely thanks to a change to a more conservative style of play and McCarthy has no complaints about swapping panache for points.
He said: "We have changed our system a wee bit but I think we are still playing decent football. This is the way we need to play to get results and I'm happy with that."
Craig Levein criticised Hamilton for being negative after his Dundee United side were held to a 1-1 draw at Tannadice in November but Reid believes recent results prove a change of tactics were justified.
He said: "One or two folk were slightly unhappy with the formation we played - maybe that's because how we played against them didn't suit them.
"But it's my job to make sure people are not happy when we are playing against them."
He added: "I was in the First Division for five years and I knew all the players, I knew what formations teams would play and I knew strengths and weaknesses.
"I watched as many SPL games as I could last season in the hope that we would get to the SPL and I watched a lot of games on DVD.
"But it's not the same until you play against these teams. After over half a season in the SPL, I feel like I have adjusted to that."
