New Republic of Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni will immediately seek talks with Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland once his appointment is confirmed today.

Top of Trapattoni's list of priorities is to persuade Ireland to resume playing for his country. Ireland walked out on the squad in September, citing reasons that later proved to be false, and has since refused to return to the fold.

"Giovanni will tell him how he once marked Pele out of a game," an Italian source told The Times. "He'll show him old pictures and tell him about all the great players he's worked with."