Stoke City midfielder Glenn Whelan hopes for the chance to prove himself with the Republic of Ireland.

Whelan feels he's been criticised unfairly in the media this year.

"We have taken a lot of stick, but what can we do? We are told by the manager to go out and play like this. It's not for me then to go, 'Hang on a minute, I'm not'.

"He's the manager, he's the boss and you do what he says because if you don't, you are not going to get picked."