Stokes hopes for international recall after ‘misunderstanding’

Coach Giovanni Trapattoni is likely to be without West Brom striker Shane Long through injury and there are doubts over Robbie Keane while Kevin Doyle is suspended for the first leg.

Stokes, who scored in Celtic’s 4-1 Scottish Communities League Cup quarter-final win over Hibernian at Easter Road on Wednesday night, upset Trappatoni in May when he withdrew from the squad for the Carling Nations Cup matches against Northern Ireland and Scotland and the friendly against Italy, although the player later denied saying it was because he was too tired.

Speaking at Celtic’s Lennoxtown training ground yesterday, Stokes, 23, said: “Honestly, I would love to be back in the international set-up, but there is nothing I can do if I don’t get in there.

“I am playing reasonably well at the moment and I am happy with my performances. I still want to improve but if I get the call it would be great. If not I will just focus on my club football.”

The Dubliner added: “I think there was a misunderstanding the last time. I only had three weeks off [in the summer] and I pulled out of the squad. But the way I did it was the way I was told. I went through the club, they spoke to the FAI from what I was told and I thought that was the way it was meant to be.

“I don’t know if it got lost in translation with Trapattoni but he selects the team and all I can do is do my best on the pitch and if the call-up comes it comes.

“I would love to be in any squad, it is such a big game for the country but we will see what happens.”

Meanwhile, Celtic manager Neil Lennon is likely to be without central defenders Glenn Loovens and Charlie Mulgrew again this weekend which is one reason why he was glad to see the return of Thomas Rogne against Hibs.

The Norway Under-21 defender featured for the first time since playing against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in May and Lennon is hoping Rogne can stay free of injury for the rest of the season.

“I think he is a very talented player but he has had his injury problems,” said Lennon.

“We gave him an hour in a bounce (friendly) game against Rangers on Monday and he came through that okay.

“I like the cut of him, he has a good temperament and a good composure and you can see he has improved the physical side of his game as well.

“If he can stay injury-free he will be a huge bonus.”