Arter ‘loves his country’ and wants to play for Ireland again, insists club boss Warnock
CARDIFF CITY manager Neil Warnock has added further weight to the expectation that Harry Arter will return to the Ireland set-up sooner rather than later.
Arter’s club boss expects the midfielder to resolve his differences with Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane in the coming weeks following the argument over the summer which led to the player making himself unavailable for last week’s Nations Cup defeat in Wales.
Ireland boss Martin O’Neill revealed earlier this week that Keane was ready to reconcile with Arter, though it remains to be seen whether it will be sufficient for the 28-year-old to halt his exile in time for the double-header against Denmark and Wales next month.
“Harry wants to play for Ireland and I’m sure it will all be ironed out. I spoke to Harry about the situation and my advice to him was to get on with his football. He loves his country and he wants to play for them again,” Warnock said.
“We are talking about grown-up people and I’m sure it’s an issue that will be resolved. I don’t know what was said, or how it was said, but I’m sure there are lessons to be learned by everybody.
“I’m sure Martin will make sure this is sorted in the next few weeks. Martin doesn’t need me to tell him that Harry is a good player to have in his squad.”
Two players likely to be available for Ireland in October are Everton pair Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy.
O’Neill had expressed his concern about Coleman after his captain sustained a stress fracture in his foot during the Wales defeat but Toffees boss Marco Silva yesterday insisted the lay-off should last no longer than a fortnight.
McCarthy, who sustained a double leg break in January, is back in full training and expected to play a brief part in an U-23 game next week.
Meanwhile, former Ireland international Wes Hoolahan has completed his move to West Brom after the Dubliner signed a short-term deal with the Baggies that includes an option to extend the 36-year-old’s stay in January.