Stephen Ireland 'dead' grandmother asks Roy Keane to recall him to the Republic of Ireland squad

Ireland went on international exile back in 2007

Stephen Ireland and Roy Keane (GETTY IMAGES)

Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane has been urged to recall Stephen Ireland - by the Stoke City midfielder's grandmother he once falsely claimed was dead.

Ireland has not played international football since 2007, when he pulled out of the squad ahead of a match, saying that his grandmother had passed away.

When it was revealed that his story was false, Ireland said it was his grandfather's second wife who had passed away, but once more this was proven to be fake.

Eventually he admitted that he left the Ireland squad to visit his girlfriend, who had reportedly had a miscarriage.

Keane revealed in the Irish Independent that by a quirk of fate he recently shared a flight with Ireland's "dead" grandmother, who asked him whether he pick her grandson again.

"Well, I spoke with the grandmother this morning, she was on the flight coming over – and she asked me would he get back involved," Keane told the paper.

"I couldn't lie to her. I said he'd have a chance if he's playing well. I think [manager] Martin [O'Neill] had a conversation with him, and all that needs to fall into place.

"We all know how talented Stephen is and Martin will look at that.

"We wouldn't be shutting the door on any player.

"What is important for any player, and Stephen is the same, is it does help to be playing week-in week-out.

"He's obviously had a difficult spell. He's only just got a run of games at Stoke now. So I certainly wouldn't be ruling anyone out."

Ireland spoke of his "regret" at the lie at the time, and suggested last year that he would be willing to return to international football.