 Jeff Whitley wants to make a comeback for Northern Ireland |
Northern Ireland midfielder Jeff Whitley has apologised to fans after he was ordered home from a training camp for breaking a curfew. The 29-year-old Wrexham player and Philip Mulryne were told to leave days before a World Cup qualifier in 2005.
"I'd like to apologise to all the fans that I let down and apologise to all my family in Ireland for putting shame on the family name," said Whitley.
"It was all the drink, all the drugs - if I touch another drop I could die."
Whitley and Mulryne returned in the early hours to the Northern Ireland squad's hotel just three days before the qualifier with Azerbaijan and a week before the famous 1-0 win over England.
Whitely is now teetotal after completing an anti-addiction programme and he hopes to convince new Northern Ireland boss Nigel Worthington that he is ready for an international return.
"Nigel has only known me as a drinker and a party animal and maybe if he knows I am teetotal he'll think differently," added the former Manchester City star.
"If I get the phone call to go I would go on the next flight over. It would be great to pull on that green shirt again."
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