Assistant manager Marco Tardelli has assured striker Kevin Doyle he still has a future with the Republic of Ireland despite being dropped from the squad by text.
The Wolves frontman was named in manager Giovanni Trapattoni 's provisional party for Friday's World Cup qualifier in Sweden and the home clash with Austria four days later, but despite being a constant in the squad during the Italian's reign, he did not make the final 23.
Doyle today spoke of his disappointment at learning of his omission via a text message, but Tardelli later insisted his Ireland career was not over.
Tardelli said: “We love all the players who have given us many successes and all players deserve the same things. The boss can’t call all the players. “But for us, it’s not finished, the time for Kevin Doyle. We know he is a good player and we know in the future, it is possible for him to come back.”
Doyle spoke of his disappointment at learning of Trapattoni’s decision when he came off the pitch after scoring the winner in Wolves’ 2-1 Championship victory over Bristol City on Saturday in an interview with his club’s official website, www.wolves.co.uk.
The 29-year-old said: “I was very disappointed to come in after the game to a text message saying I wasn’t to travel to Ireland to join up with the squad.
“I have been in every squad when I have been fit for seven and a half years, so it was disappointing. I thought I might get a phone call, but it wasn’t to be and I haven’t spoken to the manager about it.
“Maybe he will speak to me about it in the future and for now, I just have to get on with it.
“I have been in squads for seven and a half years and certainly never took it for granted and have always found it a great pleasure and privilege to play for my country.
“I feel I have always given 100 per cent in terms of showing the right attitude and dedication with Ireland in every training session and every match, as I do here at Wolves.
“I will carry on doing that and hopefully get another opportunity to do that again in the future.
“It was disappointing to get the text message telling me not to travel, particularly after such a good game with Wolves, and you quickly go from one extreme to another.
“But that’s football — I’m not going to cry about it and just get on with it and hopefully get back in the squad as soon as I can.”
