STEVE’S BALLS COURT, BY TRAP

THE will-he-won't-he-oh-just-get-on-with-it saga surrounding Stephen Ireland's international career rumbles on this week with the Man City winger claiming the ball is firmly in Giovanni Trapattoni's court.
The only problem with that is, Gio says the ball's firmly in the player's court.
So while the pair of them are left looking for each others balls, the inevitble conclusion is, neither of them have any.
Trapattoni named a 25-man squad for the qualifier against Georgia at Croke Park on February 11, but Ireland and another controversial figure, Andy Reid, were left out.
Trapattoni was defiant: "We met him. He said to us ‘when I am ready (to come back) I will call you'. Now it's up to him."
The absence of Ireland (pictured) and Reid aside, there are no surprises.
Trapattoni will depend on a backbone of experience as exemplified by keeper Shay Given, defenders Kevin Kilbane, Steve Finnan, Richard Dunne and John O'Shea, midfielder Damien Duff and strikers Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle for the Georgia clash.
"This is the most important game we will play. With three points from that game we will be level in the group with Italy," Trapattoni said.
"That will be very important for our morale and for our situation in the group."
Considering the other four teams in the group still haven't won a qualifying game between them - even against each other - we don't think Gio needs to be looking over his shoulder just yet.