Reading full-back and former Ireland international Ian Harte has launched a stinging attack on the national team manager Giovanni Trapattoni.

The former Leeds United defender who has 63 international caps and 11 international goals to his name is angry at the Italian boss for not even considering him for a call-up.

“I’d love the opportunity to go over and play for Ireland, I’m not even getting a chance, not a sniff, to even join up and have a training session,” Harte was quoted as saying.

“Lack of respect? I think they should show respect to someone who wants to put the green shirt on, who is Irish and who is passionate about playing for his own country, then they can have a look deeper inside.”

“I was speaking to a player recently and he said he spoke to the manager and the assistant manager and they said they didn’t even know that I was Irish, so obviously they haven’t done their homework.

“I’ve played 63 times and scored 11 goals and you would think the people that are still involved around the set-up would have told them. It just goes to show that they don’t even come across to have a look at any games that I’ve played.

The Reading full-back has criticized Trapattoni for not attending matches in England to see how his players are doing.

“It’s absolute madness. If the majority of players are playing in England, which they are, he needs to come and watch games like any manager, like Capello, like any decent manager is going to do. That’s what he’s got to do.”

Republic of Ireland host Scotland at their Aviva Stadium later today in the final game of the Nations Cup, with the Irish priced at 1.95 (19/20) to win the game with 888Sport.