Sounds like Stephen Kelly won’t be getting called up by Trap anytime soon

In his press conference today, Giovanni Trapattoni has claimed that Stephen Kelly issued him with an ‘I play or go home’ ultimatum. He went home and he may not be back.

The post-Poland glow may be bright but for one player who missed out on last night’s win, his international future looks very dim indeed.

Stephen Kelly, who we were told was rested for last night’s friendly, seems to have gotten on the wrong side of Trap. As you remember, there were allegations of a row before the Faroe Islands qualifier between player and manager and today Trap gave his side of the story.

“You know what happened with Kelly?” Trapattoni is quoted as saying on the Irish Times website. “‘I play or I go home!’ So go home. Paul Green? I called him late at night and he came straight away. It’s the way the Irish players need to be. They need to be happy to play for their country. They wouldn’t do it at their clubs. Why? Why only here? Either we have a team or a squad.

As for whether Kelly would get back in down the line, the addition of this line from Trap doesn’t bode well. “Anyway, we have others, like Seamus Coleman.”

At 29, and playing in the Premier League, we would like to see Kelly involved in the Irish squad in some capacity but it sounds like he has made Trap’s bad books. And we also know that can be a very tricky place to get out of.

We’ll see if he gets the nod for the Sweden qualifier next month but we wouldn't hold our breath.