Soccer: Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni insists he has no problem with midfielder Andy Reid who has yet to enjoy a single minute on the pitch in a senior game since the Italian's arrival in Ireland in May.
It also seems likely the Sunderland player will be overlooked once again for Wednesday night's World Cup qualifier against Cyprus at Croke Park.
The 26-year-old's absence from the team has stunned many commentators, who count the Dubliner among the most talented midfielders the country has to offer.
But amid suggestions that his face simply does not fit, rumours have emerged of a bust-up between the player and the 69-year-old manager following the 2-1 victory over Georgia in Mainz last month.
However, Trapattoni is bemused by the speculation and is adamant there is nothing sinister about Reid's absence from the team.
Speaking after training at Malahide this evening, Trapattoni said: "I never have pre-judgements on any players. I get angry often when the players are on the pitch, and it goes away in five minutes.
"The most important thing is the players, but no, I don't have any problems with anybody.
"I choose in all honesty and I choose thinking about the interests of the team."
Reid has not played for his country since the 2-2 European Championship qualifying draw with Wales in Cardiff last November, and missed the end-of-season training camp in Portugal and friendlies against Serbia and Colombia through injury.
He returned to the squad for the friendly in Norway in August and has been included ever since, but is yet to set foot on the pitch.
Trapattoni has designed his team with a very definite shape and has employed two holding midfielders to allow wide-men Damien Duff and Aiden McGeady - and in their absence, Stephen Hunt - to join forces with strikers Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle.
The previously unheralded Glenn Whelan has made one of those places his own despite his relative lack of football at Stoke, while Steven Reid emerged from his long-running injury problems to take the other to great effect against Georgia and Montenegro.
But the Blackburn man has succumbed once again, and Trapattoni seems certain to resist the clamour for his namesake to be included with Liam Miller the leading candidate for the role against the Cypriots.
Asked if Andy Reid's frustration is mounting, the manager said: "That is not a problem.
"The problem is each game we have is a very important game to qualify. I don't understand why Andy Reid is more important than other situations.
"We have been here four months and we have played with another team.
"I have said many, many times, we are very, very offensive. With two strikers, with McGeady, with Duff, with also Hunt, we are very, very offensive."
Trapattoni is yet to name his team, but there will be at least two changes from the 0-0 draw in Montenegro with Steven Reid having been joined on the casualty list by right-back Steve Finnan.
Paul McShane is being tipped to take the Espanyol defender's place, although it remains unclear whether he or John O'Shea will slot in at right-back with the other playing at centre-back.
Trapattoni said: "I haven't decided. Maybe tomorrow after the last training, I will decide. But at the moment, I haven't. I wish all 22 players could play."
But if Sunderland's Miller gets his chance, he has promised he will not let his country down.
The 27-year-old has played just four competitive games for Ireland in five years, and started only one of those, and he is currently struggling to command a place at the Stadium of Light.
Miller said: "My fitness is fine and I know I will do the job if I get the nod from my manager.
"Even though you may not be in the team or playing every week with your club, you train twice as hard, so it won't be a problem for me."
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)