Stephen Ireland’s fiancee says an Irish return is his “unfinished dream”

Could Stephen Ireland return to international duty for the first time since 2007? According to his fiancée, it's his "unfinished dream".

Ireland has been a surprise success for Aston Villa this season, amid a side with a band of Irish internationals such as Shay Given, Robbie Keane and Richard Dunne. So could Giovanni Trapattoni call up the Cork native on Friday for the Irish squad to face the Czech Republic on February 29?

According to Ireland's fiancée Jessica Lawlor, the midfielder hopes so. "I'd love for him to play in the Euros," she told the Irish Sun. "So fingers crossed that something will work out - there's still time."

"There's no news on the that front at the moment but at the end of the day it has got to come from Stephen and it has got to come from them. I can't answer for Stephen but if or when a phone call comes, it has to be his decision.

"He has a lot to prove when it comes to Ireland - he is a lot older and more mature now. I think he could handle it all better. In my opinion he played his best and was at his happiest with Ireland."

The 25-year-old hasn't donned a green shirt since the infamous 'Grannygate' scandal of 2007, when the player informed then-Irish manager Steve Staunton that he could not play an international match (interestingly enough, against the Czechs) due the entirely fabricated 'death' of his grandmother, a story which was then again falsely changed to be centred around the 'death' of his other grandmother.

Either way, Ireland's run of form in the Premier League may lead to some Irish fans hoping for his return, while many believe younger talents such as James McClean should get a look in or that the squad which took us to the summer tournament should be left unaltered. Where do you stand? Let us know in the comments section below.