The Road to Rio 2014 begins

And we haven't got a full squad yet. After Stephen Ireland now it's Darron Gibson's turn to spit the dummy.
Irishindependent.ie

Giovanni Trapattoni has warned Darron Gibson that there are plenty of other midfielders queuing up to take his place in the Ireland squad should the Everton player decide to prolong his exile from the international arena.

Ireland begin their World Cup qualifying campaign on Friday when they visit Kazakhstan, but they will be without Gibson, who has made himself unavailable for the game, and for the friendly against Oman four days later.

Shorn of Keith Andrews through suspension and injury victim Paul Green, Trapattoni was thinking about slotting Gibson in to his midfield, but the 24-year-old refused a call-up as he is still suffering from the disappointment of Euro 2012.

Gibson put in a series of fine displays since moving to Everton in January, but the former Manchester United man was left disillusioned with Trapattoni and the Ireland set-up when he did not make it off the bench during the country's dismal Euro 2012 campaign.

Trapattoni said that he respected Gibson's decision, but the Italian also insisted that Ireland would be able to cope fine without him.

"In the past we were frightened about missing players, but now we already have a squad," Trapattoni told a press conference.

"He can think about it or we go with other players. We have David Meyler, Marc Wilson, then there is Glenn Whelan, James McCarthy. All can play (in midfield), and coming back we also have (Keith) Andrews.

"When we come here, if there are players who are not coming, we build the other team.

"We have been watching also new players, maybe we will discover a new Irish player. He has to decide whether he wants to play or not."