Stephen Ireland: Mary Hanniganhears the views of a Corkman who seems central to Steve Staunton's plans.

The eve of match press conference. "Manager and captain or vice-captain, Croke Park press conference room, approx 12 midday," said the email from the Communications Department of the Football Association of Ireland earlier in the week. No surprises there, the captain or vice-captain always share with Steve Staunton the chore of fulfilling this pre-match media fixture.

Yesterday? No sign of Robbie Keane or Shay Given. Instead, alongside Staunton sat Stephen Ireland. A Cork man! Not just a Cork man in the squad, but a Cork man who is more than likely going to start against Wales.

Are the FAI trying to make a point? Eh, do bears defecate in wooded areas? Lest you were holidaying in Jupiter this week, Roy Keane alleged that Cork-born players, like his own Liam Miller, were discriminated against by the FAI. But here sits Stephen Ireland.

Stephen? Do you feel discriminated against? "No, not at all." Will Roy's criticism of the players just spur them on? "Yes, of course. It's another reason to win tomorrow. Obviously he's shown he's a good manager, a great player, a bit of a legend. I think his comments were just his opinions, but a lot of players will rise to the occasion tomorrow."

And that's as much as he wants to say on the matter. Not that Ireland is a stranger to run-ins himself, the 20-year-old from Cobh, of course, once vowing never to play for his country again for so long as Brian Kerr was manager, after being left out of an underage game in Cork a few years back.

A spiky character, then, but a thoughtful one too. "I'm only 20 but feel I have an old head on my shoulders," he said. "It can only benefit me playing against other countries and with the players I'm playing with. We've a very good squad with a lot of talent, but I'm learning every day."

Just the three caps so far, two goals in those games, the first in the nightmare that was the 5-2 defeat away to Cyprus, the second the winner in the near-nightmare against San Marino. "That goal was a relief to be honest. I didn't really appreciate how important it was until after the game. It was actually a tougher game than you'd think, so when the ball fell to me in the box and I scored, it was just a massive relief."

Have the players talked much about that game since? "Of course we have, we know we have to work hard for each other, put in the hard graft and plenty of communication. If we get a chance we'll have to be clinical."

Was the reaction to the game over the top? "Yeah, absolutely. It's also understandable, in a way, but I think there has been a lot of outrageous outbursts. But, hopefully, now the fans will get behind us and we can raise our game. This is a massive occasion, there is tension there, of course, but it's keeping us on our toes and we know what we have to achieve."

He's forthright, too, about his own performances in his senior appearances to date, his debut coming against Sweden in Staunton's first game, when he came on as a substitute for Stephen Elliott early in the second half.

"Not good enough, to be honest," he said. "I'm very critical of myself, I think there's a lot more to give. But in the remaining games I'll keep trying to improve myself, keep scoring goals, creating chances and putting in better performances. In a way I've found it hard playing alongside new players, finding out what they do in terms of movement and so on. I'm still finding my feet and lucky to be getting my chance, but I'm learning from the experience."

Have Manchester City's Premiership struggles effected your confidence? "No, not at all. Mentally it doesn't put me off. I come here and try to be as good as I can, play as good as I can. In this team, in this squad, I've become a different player. Learning off people like Robbie Keane and Damien Duff you can only get better."

"He's a wonderful footballer and has proved in the short space of time with us that he can score goals," said his manager beside him. "And goalscoring midfielders are a great bonus to any side. He's got a lovely knack of popping up in the box at the right time." And with that the manager and his Cork midfielder bid adieu.

The FAI have made their point. Liam Miller might be resting in Sunderland, but Stephen Ireland, his fellow county man, it would seem, is at the very heart of Staunton's plans for the game against Wales.