1/1 The Sports Pages

The Irish Independent says that, for the third year running, there are a large number of Irish football followers of the strong opinion that Giovanni Trapattoni's New Year resolution should be to attend more matches.

Although, as the paper’s writer Daniel McDonnell points out, there hasn’t been a lot of on-pitch action from Irish players in the Premier League for Il Trap to see in recent times.

The Indo reports that Gerard Houllier will bid to make peace with some of the senior players in his Aston Villa squad with whom he’s clashed in a bid to revive the English midlands’ team from their current slump. Among them, our own Richard Dunne.

The Irish Times talk of the return of long-term absentee Kevin McLaughlin (pictured), who will start Leinster's Magner's League clash with Connacht at the RDS alongside Seán O’Brien and Shane Jennings in the backrow of Joe Schmidt’s side.

Meanwhile down at Thomond Park, Magner’s League leaders Munster have made nine changes to the side that beat Connacht on Monday, as they face Ulster tonight.

Jerry Flannery returns to the bench from injury, with Damien Varley staring alongside Wian du Preez and Peter Borlase in the frontrow.

Ulster will welcome back Rory Best to their starting line-up as the hooker returns from injury.

The Daily Telegraph feature a candid interview with Wayne Rooney in which he admits that he was wrong to demand assurances over Manchester United’s ambition and described his World Cup campaign as a 'disaster'.

He reveals that by staying at Old Trafford he’s managed to keep his missus happy as she was still within easy reach of her family in Liverpool and he dismissed the rumours that he may have moved to Manchester City.

“People said I was odds-on to go to Man City. That was never the case. There was no way I'd have gone there, but I know I've made the right decision. I've made myself happy," the spud-like soccer star says.