Neil Warnock believes Cardiff City’s Harry Arter will patch up his differences with Roy Keane and play for the Republic of Ireland again.
A leaked WhatsApp message, spoken by Burnley’s Stephen Ward, detailed a bust-up between on-loan Bluebirds midfielder Arter and Jonathan Walters on one side – and Republic assistant manager Keane on the other.
Arter declared himself unavailable for the Republic’s games against Wales and Poland during the international break but Warnock said: “Harry loves his country and wants to play for them again.
“Martin (O’Neill, Republic manager) doesn’t need me to tell him that Harry’s a good player to have in the squad. I’m sure Martin will get this sorted in the next few weeks.”
In the message, Ward said Keane had accused Arter and Walters of not doing enough training while on international duty with the Republic in May.
Warnock said: “The one thing you can’t complain about (with) Harry is training. He trains too much and I have to curb him at times because he trains like he plays.
“He gets booked every game! I don’t see his training being an issue.”
The 28-year-old has been a key member of Warnock’s squad after completing a Deadline Day loan move from top-flight rivals Bournemouth, and the Cardiff boss has urged the midfielder to stay focused on performing in the Premier League.
“I spoke to him early doors. My advice to him was: ‘Say nothing and get on with your football’,” Warnock said.
“He loves his country and wants to play for them again. We are talking about grown-up people and I am sure that will be sorted.
“You get rows like this a lot of the time and I think Martin will make sure that is sorted in the next few weeks.
“I am sure there are lessons to be learned by everybody. Martin doesn’t need me to tell him that Harry is a good player to have in the squad.
“I was quite pleased he didn’t go away from a selfish point of view.
“Roy is Roy. He was the only guy that spoke to me when I got the sack at Sheffield United and I will never forget that. That was a bit of class.
“I am sure Roy will deal with the situation in the right way in the cold light of day.”
Cardiff have collected two points from their first four league matches and travel to Chelsea on Saturday looking for a first victory of the season, and Warnock is prepared for a tough day at Stamford Bridge.
“Whether we like it or not we will be under cosh for large parts. What we have to do is find a remedy where we can make our own play count,” he said.
“We have earned the right to play in the Premier League. The games against Chelsea and Manchester City are not going to define our season.
“I don’t want us to go there and not have a shot on target, I want us to try and have a go when we can.”