Celtic manager Neil Lennon last week said he would ring Giovanni Trapattoni to remind him of the availability of Anthony Stokes and the striker was again on target over the weekend.
The 23-year-old Dubliner has scored 20 goals or more over the past two seasons and is on course to better that having notched his 19th of the campaign in the Hoops’ 1-1 draw with Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Saturday.
Lennon’s side hold a 21-point lead at the top of the SPL despite only managing a draw against the Dons and the former Northern Ireland international backed the player to pull on the green jersey again after failing to feature since pulling out of last summer’s Carling Nations Cup squad, claiming he was too tired.
“I see young James McClean was picked from Sunderland and, if Anthony keeps going in the same vein as he is, I will be putting a call into the FAI and saying: ‘Look, I think this kid is worth a look.’ I would be prepared to make that call,” Lennon said on The Guardian website.
“He has played consistently well for a big club, under pressure, every week and he’s played well in European games,” Lennon added.
“It might just be the fact that he didn’t go to that tournament at the end of last season and Trapattoni has been loyal to his players, which I can understand as well.
“He (Stokes) realises he made an error of judgment last May. Regardless of whether Ireland had qualified for the Euros or not, he wants to play for his country.
I’m not going to tell Mr Trapattoni how to do his job. All I’m doing is saying, look, I recommend this player to you and I think he’s worth a look at again.”
“I always love to play for my country and I hope one day in the near future I might do that again,” the player himself is quoted as saying in The Daily Telegraph.
Stephen Ireland (Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Aston Villa)
Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish was full of praise for his midfield playmaker after their 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. Along with winger Charles N’Zogbia, the Cork native has been ordered to step up to the plate since Robbie Keane’s departure and Ireland, who hasn’t been involved in the international set-up since September 2007, was excellent on the day.
Steven Reid (West Brom 1-0 Chelsea)
West Brom’s Stephen Reid is awaiting the results of a scan after injuring ankle ligaments in the Baggies’ 1-0 win over Chelsea. The 30-year-old retired from international football in 2010 but has left the door open for a return to Ireland in recent times. This latest injury will put him out of action for a couple of weeks at least.
Npower League One
Jay O’Shea (Hartlepool 1-1 MK Dons)
Former Bray Wanderers player Jay O’Shea nodded home the equaliser for MK Dons on 51 minutes in their 1-1 draw with Hartlepool at Victoria Park. It was the 23-year-old’s fourth goal in 20 appearances this season for Karl Robinson’s side.
Alan Sheehan (Notts County 2-0 Carlisle United)
Full-back Alan Sheehan scored an excellent free-kick for the home side as they moved into the League One play-off places with a 2-0 win over Carlisle United. The former Ireland U21 international scored what was only his second goal of the season on 38 minutes after Jonathan Forte had put the Magpies ahead.
Npower League Two
Padraig Amond (Accrington Stanley 2-2 Port Vale)
Ex-Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers striker Padraig Amond help Paul Cook claim his first point as manager of Accrington Stanley with a close range finish on 45 minutes. Amond, who is originally from Carlow, tweeted this after the game:
Mark Byrne (Barnet 1-1 Rotherham)
Crumlin United schoolboy Mark Byrne scored the opening goal on seven minutes in Barnet’s 1-1 draw with Rotherham. The midfielder’s free-kick somehow curled past a crowd of bodies and into the net as the Bees ended a run of four consecutive defeats.
Eunan O’Kane (Crawley Town 0-1 Torquay United)
Derry man Eunan O’Kane decided to switch allegiance from Northern Ireland to the Republic last year and the 21-year-old grabbed the winner at Broadfield Stadium to aid Torquay’s push for promotion.
James Collins (Crewe Alexandra 1-1 Shrewsbury Town)
English-born James Collins saw the ball go over the line after hitting him in the back with five minutes of the game gone before 17-year-old Nick Powell hit back to level the score soon after.
Irish Eye: Who's got Trap's number? Neil Lennon is looking to make a call
Scottish Premier League
Anthony Stokes (Aberdeen 1-1 Celtic)
Celtic manager Neil Lennon last week said he would ring Giovanni Trapattoni to remind him of the availability of Anthony Stokes and the striker was again on target over the weekend.
The 23-year-old Dubliner has scored 20 goals or more over the past two seasons and is on course to better that having notched his 19th of the campaign in the Hoops’ 1-1 draw with Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Saturday.
Lennon’s side hold a 21-point lead at the top of the SPL despite only managing a draw against the Dons and the former Northern Ireland international backed the player to pull on the green jersey again after failing to feature since pulling out of last summer’s Carling Nations Cup squad, claiming he was too tired.
“I see young James McClean was picked from Sunderland and, if Anthony keeps going in the same vein as he is, I will be putting a call into the FAI and saying: ‘Look, I think this kid is worth a look.’ I would be prepared to make that call,” Lennon said on The Guardian website.
“He has played consistently well for a big club, under pressure, every week and he’s played well in European games,” Lennon added.
“It might just be the fact that he didn’t go to that tournament at the end of last season and Trapattoni has been loyal to his players, which I can understand as well.
“He (Stokes) realises he made an error of judgment last May. Regardless of whether Ireland had qualified for the Euros or not, he wants to play for his country.
“I always love to play for my country and I hope one day in the near future I might do that again,” the player himself is quoted as saying in The Daily Telegraph.
Watch Stokes’ goal here:
YouTube credit: ChannelTOTW
Barclays Premier League
Stephen Ireland (Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Aston Villa)
Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish was full of praise for his midfield playmaker after their 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. Along with winger Charles N’Zogbia, the Cork native has been ordered to step up to the plate since Robbie Keane’s departure and Ireland, who hasn’t been involved in the international set-up since September 2007, was excellent on the day.
Steven Reid (West Brom 1-0 Chelsea)
West Brom’s Stephen Reid is awaiting the results of a scan after injuring ankle ligaments in the Baggies’ 1-0 win over Chelsea. The 30-year-old retired from international football in 2010 but has left the door open for a return to Ireland in recent times. This latest injury will put him out of action for a couple of weeks at least.
Npower League One
Jay O’Shea (Hartlepool 1-1 MK Dons)
Former Bray Wanderers player Jay O’Shea nodded home the equaliser for MK Dons on 51 minutes in their 1-1 draw with Hartlepool at Victoria Park. It was the 23-year-old’s fourth goal in 20 appearances this season for Karl Robinson’s side.
Alan Sheehan (Notts County 2-0 Carlisle United)
Full-back Alan Sheehan scored an excellent free-kick for the home side as they moved into the League One play-off places with a 2-0 win over Carlisle United. The former Ireland U21 international scored what was only his second goal of the season on 38 minutes after Jonathan Forte had put the Magpies ahead.
Npower League Two
Padraig Amond (Accrington Stanley 2-2 Port Vale)
Ex-Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers striker Padraig Amond help Paul Cook claim his first point as manager of Accrington Stanley with a close range finish on 45 minutes. Amond, who is originally from Carlow, tweeted this after the game:
Crumlin United schoolboy Mark Byrne scored the opening goal on seven minutes in Barnet’s 1-1 draw with Rotherham. The midfielder’s free-kick somehow curled past a crowd of bodies and into the net as the Bees ended a run of four consecutive defeats.
Eunan O’Kane (Crawley Town 0-1 Torquay United)
Derry man Eunan O’Kane decided to switch allegiance from Northern Ireland to the Republic last year and the 21-year-old grabbed the winner at Broadfield Stadium to aid Torquay’s push for promotion.
James Collins (Crewe Alexandra 1-1 Shrewsbury Town)
English-born James Collins saw the ball go over the line after hitting him in the back with five minutes of the game gone before 17-year-old Nick Powell hit back to level the score soon after.
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Anthony Stokes COYBIG Euro 2012 Giovanni Trapattoni Green army Irish Eye Neil Lennon Trap Watch