Trap making a mistake by ignoring talisman Carsley

Feb 10 2009 By Paul McGrath

WHILE Villa are celebrating so many England call-ups, I can’t help thinking Birmingham should be toasting a Republic of Ireland return for Lee Carsley.

For Giovanni Trapattoni to continually ignore the Blues bulldog is a shame because Lee has been a bit of a talisman for Ireland in the past.

I remember him when he was a boy at Derby and even back then he’d be prepared to put his body on the line for you.

Perhaps it’s got something to do with Lee being 34 now and Trapattoni preferring younger players.

International football can be very speedy and quick and even a step up from the Premier League let alone the Championship.

Obviously it’s the best 11 players from each country and Lee might be getting to that age where it’s a bit too fast-paced a game for him, so he might not get a game.

But even having him in the squad for tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier against Georgia would be good because he wouldn’t let Ireland down if called upon.

He’s a big character and he reminds me a bit of Stan Staunton in that way he goes about geeing people up in the dressing room.