Sven to tell Trapattoni: Give Ireland back to the Irish

Manchester City manager Eriksson has recently seen his former Serie A counterpart Trapattoni take over as coach of the Republic of Ireland.

And one of the former Juventus, Fiorentina, Inter and AC Milan manager's first tasks will be to persuade City midfielder Ireland to return to the international fold.

Ireland, who recently took delivery of a £90,000 Range Rover customised with pink wheels, grille, seats and accessories, has not played for his country since inventing the death of two grandmothers to engineer his way home from an international double-header last season.

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I said 'Pimp my ride', not 'Pink my ride': City's Stephen Ireland behind the (pink) wheel of his Overfinch-styled Range Rover, for which he shelled out £90,000

But Eriksson said today: "I have not spoken to Trapattoni yet but I will. "I will be happy to help him to persuade Stephen Ireland that he should play again for his country.

"You can't force somebody of course but you can try to persuade them and that is what we will do.

"I think one day Stephen may regret it if he does not go back. I have worked in club football and international football and I know that every game is a big game.

"But the biggest thing you can do is play in a World Cup. You can't compare that to anything and Stephen must understand that."

Eriksson said of Trapattoni: "He is a great man, a great football man and a nice man. I am sure he will do a great job. He is good at man-to-man coaching, very good."

Another City player who could have an international future is 20-year-old goalkeeper Joe Hart, who has made himself Eriksson's first choice after a number of impressive performances this season.

England manager Fabio Capello recently expressed his concern at the standard of goalkeeping in the country but admitted he had seen a promising player in the Under-21 side.

That has led people to deduce that it is Hart that has caught his eye and, if so, Eriksson admits he is not surprised.

"I don't know if he meant him but I always said that one day Joe Hart will play for England," Eriksson said.

"It is very much up to Capello but sooner or later he will play for England if everything goes without problems - injuries and things like that.

"I think he has that quality although he has not yet got a lot of experience."

City have not played since their superb derby victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford almost a fortnight ago due to their early elimination from the FA Cup.

They return to Barclays Premier League action on Monday when Everton, one of their rivals for a European spot, visit the City of Manchester Stadium.

Eriksson has close to a full-strength squad available with Elano and Vedran Corluka back from suspension and midfielder Michael Johnson in contention after two months on the sidelines.

Summer signing Valeri Bojinov, the Bulgaria striker, is now City's only absentee but he too, after a knee operation earlier in the season, is back in training.

Eriksson is delighted with the strength of his squad and hopes to secure a further boost by tying key defender Richard Dunne to a new contract in the coming weeks.

Dietmar Hamann and Micah Richards have recently signed new deals and Eriksson wants Dunne to follow.

"I know that talks are ongoing," he said. "I don't know at what stage it is at this moment but I hope it will only be a matter of weeks."