RADE Prica is targeting a return to his homeland after a failure to establish himself in Sunderland's first team cost him a place at this month's European Championships.

Prica was a notable absentee from the 23-man squad Sweden coach Lars Lagerback submitted to UEFA last week, with veteran strikers Henrik Larsson and Marcus Allback selected to provide the cover for first-choice strike pairing Zlatan Ibrahimovich and Johan Elmander.

Prica, who boasts 14 senior international caps, was a Sweden regular when he completed a £2m move from Aalborg to Sunderland in January.

But despite scoring on his debut after coming off the bench against Birmingham, the 27-yearold went on to make just five more substitute appearances in the second half of last season.

His failure to command a regular starting spot has cost him a place in this summer's Euro 2008 tournament in Austria and Switzerland, and forced him to reassess his future as he looks ahead to the start of next season.

Sources in Sweden claim his former employers Helsingborgs are interested in taking him back to Scandinavia, and Black Cats boss Roy Keane will be tempted to cut his losses on a player that has looked ill-equipped for the Premier League.

Keane promised there would be significant changes at the end of last season, but his only transfer activity has been the release of a number of players who had come to the end of their contracts.

Further departures are likely before the transfer window closes at the end of August, and Prica's chances of starting next season in a Sunderland shirt currently appear slim.

Meanwhile, Manchester City Academy recruitment officer Barry Poynton has confirmed Keane's admiration of in-demand midfielder Stephen Ireland.

Ireland is expected to leave the City of Manchester Stadium this summer, and Poynton is aware of Keane's interest in the Republic of Ireland international.

"I saw Stephen playing for Cork Schoolboys as a 12-year-old and he was one of the most elegant players I've ever seen," said Poynton. "Stephen came from Cobh Ramblers, the same club as Roy Keane, who I know thinks a great deal of him."