STEPHEN Ireland has delivered another hammer blow to Giovanni Trapattoni's desire to get him back on the international stage, and insisted he doesn't miss playing for his country.

The troubled Man-chester City star has been one of the top players in the new Premier League season, but he is no rush to return to the Ireland fold a year after walking out on the team in Slovakia.

"I'll never say never, but right now I don't miss international football. I'm happy playing for the club and I've got a young family to think of," said Ireland last weekend.

"I just think I'm so happy at the club. I have a young family, just me and my girlfriend with no support around us. Right now my priority is my club and my family. That's the enjoyable part of it.

"I wouldn't say I dread or hate going to Ireland or there's something wrong with the players, staff or playing for your country.

"It's just that since I walked away, I feel like I'm better off being away from it instead of going back to it. It's helped me to concentrate on my club football. My commitment is to Manchester City and my family.

"Concentrating only on City has enabled me to play better. If you look at the fixtures, we've got a game on Sunday at Wigan, then on Thursday UEFA Cup, then Sunday again against Liverpool and then it would be Ireland vs. Cyprus.

"But instead of playing for them, I'll have a few days off with my family to get ready for the Premier League again, which is getting harder every year."

Ireland coach Liam Brady, however, insisted that Trapattoni's door is still open to Ireland.

Brady told the Irish Daily Star, "All I can tell you is the door remains open for the moment. The boy's not ready to play, so what can you do? But we might not be there if he does change his mind."

The Irish players have consistently maintained that Ireland will be welcomed back, but the mood within the camp is changing.

Stephen Hunt even suggested this week that the City star cannot walk back in for World Cup duty in South Africa without playing in the qualifiers -- if Ireland make it.

"No, he wouldn't be picked in those circumstances," Hunt told Newstalk. "The manager wouldn't pick him if he hadn't played in the qualifiers."

Hunt added, "He's let us down a bit but he'll be welcomed back once he got there. If he doesn't want to be there then sod you, because we can't drag him along, but he's on fire at the moment, he's playing very well.

"The way Irish people are, if you give 100% then they're generally okay with you. So if he comes back all guns blazing then he'll be welcomed back. No doubt about it, if Ronaldo can get welcomed back to Man United after what he said and done during the summer, then Stephen Ireland can play for Ireland again."

Celtic Wins

CELTIC were handed a stiff pre-Champions League test by Aberdeen on Saturday when a late, late goal from Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink finally secured a 3-2 win.

The Dutch striker's second goal of the game, off an Aiden McGeady cross, rescued the win for Celtic after Scott McDonald had pegged Aberdeen back with a 77th minute equalizer.

Speaking ahead of Tuesday night's trip to Villareal in Spain, Strachan said, "I would have liked it to have been easier in the last 20 minutes and I'm sure the players would have liked to have been easier.

"But Aberdeen didn't make it easy for them. I watched them during the week and told my players that they are good at attacking, they have strength and pace and I was proved right.

"From a coach's point of view, it's not easy to watch games like that but for the fans - and that's why we are here - we have to try and entertain and try and win and we have achieved both. Aberdeen achieved the entertaining part."

Match winner Vennegoor of Hesselink said, "It was very important result for us and it is always nice to score goals if you are a striker. There is healthy competition here and it is helping us to achieve."

Rangers moved three points clear of Celtic at the top of the Premier League table thanks to a 3-0 win over Hibernian on Sunday, but manager Walter Smith still insists the Bhoys are the team to beat in Scotland.

"Celtic have shown they have the capability of playing well from Saturday to Saturday and that's what we must match," said Smith. "We showed it to a degree last season until a bit of fixture congestion gave us a problem.

"We have different personnel and a slightly different style of play and we have to show that we can continue to win like this throughout the season.

"Celtic have shown the standards and we have to make sure we continue to play in the manner we have done."

Meanwhile, Strachan has confirmed Celtic will sign American goalkeeper Dominic Cervi, a 22-year-old University of Tulsa graduate.

Trap in Person

IRELAND boss Giovanni Trapattoni finally turned up at a club game on Saturday, and saw World Cup outcast Andy Reid in action for Sunderland.

Trapattoni made his first scouting trip to England since his appointment last May when he watched Aston Villa beat Roy Keane's team 2-1.

Up to now assistant managers Liam Brady and Marco Tardelli have undertaken all major scouting trips on the 69-year-old's behalf.

Trap has been heavily criticized for failing to leave his Milan base but finally put that right as he made his Premier League bow.

Midfielder Reid has yet to play a competitive game for Trapattoni, and was left out of the Ireland B squad this week for the friendly against Nottingham Forest at Dalymount Park.

Speculation is mounting that he could figure against Cyprus if Steven Reid's latest knee injury fails to respond to treatment in time for the October 15 clash at Croke Park.

The Sunderland star got 31 minutes to show Trap his worth at Villa Park when he came agonizingly close to a late equalizer with a stunning free-kick.

Trap was present as Reid replaced fellow Irishman Liam Miller at 59 minutes, with Daryl Murphy and Anthony Stokes also making second half substitute appearances.

Meanwhile, Trapattoni named a B squad of 22 players for a friendly clash with Nottingham Forest in Dublin next week that will give him the chance to run the rule over several young hopefuls.

Senior caps include Andy Keogh and Wes Hoolahan. Stephen Hunt's brother Noel is included, while also called up are Eddie Nolan, Keith Treacy and Keith Andrews from Blackburn Rovers.

Trapattoni said, "This game will give me an important opportunity to work closely with many of our talented players. We have another eight games ahead of us in our challenge for World Cup qualification and I have no doubt that some of this squad will be called upon to play their part."

Keane Scoreless

LIVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard has told Robbie Keane to ignore all criticism of his failure to open his Anfield account after the Irish skipper starred in Saturday's derby win over Everton.

Keane was involved in the build-up to both Fernando Torres goals and earned lavish praise from manager Rafa Benitez and Gerrard afterwards.

Gerrard said, "I know Nando showed how deadly he was but I still believe Robbie was an equally genuine contender for the man of the match award.

"He was outstanding. He did everything you could ask of him. He was our match winner every bit as much as Torres. They couldn't cope with his passing and movement.

"Everyone else is talking about Robbie's need to score, not us. That doesn't matter to us because he was our match winner without scoring himself. I went to Robbie after the game and told him that."

Soccer Shorts

BIRMINGHAM City have confirmed that defender Stephen Kelly will miss the World Cup qualifier against Cyprus with a thigh injury, while Steve Finnan is a major doubt after picking up a hamstring injury on his debut for Spanish club Espanyol. Steven Reid is another concern for Giovanni Trapattoni after a new knee injury kept him out of action for Blackburn last week-end . . .

SUNDERLAND boss Roy Keane is prepared to let former Irish striker David Connolly out on loan now that he is back to full fitness following a hip injury . . .

DUBLIN rivals St Pats and Bohs will meet in the FAI Cup semifinal at Richmond Park, with Galway at home to Cork City or Derry in the second semi . . .

ROOKIE manager Jeff Kenna hopes to agree a new contract with Galway United and extend his stay at Terryland Park beyond the end of the season . . .

BOHEMIANS can clinch the eircom League title on Friday night if they beat Bray Wanderers and St. Pat's lose their clash with Finn Harps . . .

DERRY City were easy 6-1 winners over Wexford Youths in the eircom League Cup final at Ferrycarrig Park on Saturday night . . .

LOCAL developer Tom Coughlan is close to a deal to buy Cork City and take the club out of examinership . . .

CORK City midfielder Colin Healy has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury . . .

YOUNG Irish midfielder Kevin Thornton has joined Brighton on loan from Coventry City.