Return to international scene spurs Kenny

Kenny has not played for his country in four years and was dropped by former manager Steve Staunton for requesting time off to resolve personal issues.

With the Italian Giovanni Trapattoni now at the helm, Kenny – who tested positive for the banned substance ephedrine at the end of last season – is hoping for a fresh start.

Speaking to the media yesterday for the first time since his comeback last weekend, Kenny said: "I would definitely like to play for Ireland again. I never said that I didn't want to represent my country, I only wanted time out for personal reasons.

"Hopefully, it's a clean slate and, if I do get another opportunity, I will be more than delighted.

"I feel I have a point to prove. I let in nine goals in my last two games – so I don't want to finish on that."

Kenny, 31, won the last of his seven caps in a 5-2 defeat against Cyprus in October 2006 after conceding four goals in the previous game against Holland.

Former Blades No 1 Alan Kelly is now Ireland's goalkeeping coach and has already been in touch with Kenny about monitoring his form.

Reflecting on his nine months in the wilderness, Kenny admits that he has been taught a harsh lesson.

Although ephedrine is a banned substance in sport, it is still present in a number of over-the counter medicines.

Kenny has always insisted that he is 'no cheat' but unwittingly consumed the drug by taking a cough medicine on the eve of last season's play-off semi-final against Preston North End.

"You don't think you are doing anything wrong taking cough medicine but it has cost me virtually a full season of my career," he said. "When I first got banned, I remember crying in the car on the way home. I didn't know if my career was over.

"Getting banned for nine months was hard to take, whatever the reasons, but rules are rules and I have not abided them. At the end of the day, it was my own fault. No one else's.

"You could say it felt a bit like a prison sentence.

"I was chalking off every month as it went along and was determined in my own mind to train hard and stay fit."

Under the terms of his ban, Kenny was not even allowed to train with the Blades and spent his days in isolation, training at a local gym, or working with a private goalkeeping coach.

"The worse times were Saturday afternoons," he said. "I just had to get out of the house at 3 o'clock because I couldn't bear watching the results. I had to go to the gym on my own or running in the woods with the dog. Mentally, it was very tough."

After making a triumphant return to first-team football last weekend against Swansea City, Kenny has one more game, away at Ipswich Town on Sunday, before the summer break.

"I have had more than enough time at home in the last nine months but it's made me even more determined to come back and be better than ever," he said.

"I hope this will act as a lesson to everybody, senior professionals, and kids coming through. You have got to be 100 per cent sure that you know what you are taking.

"If you make a mistake like I did, you will be banned and punished. I am alright with paracetamol – but I don't think I will ever touch anything else now."