EARLIER this week Liam Lawrence moved down a division to make the move to Portsmouth but he shot up in the estimation of Irish fans everywhere yesterday with an international-class display in Yerevan.

EARLY September. A time for new beginnings in schoolyards the length and breadth of the country and in the similarly boyish surroundings of professional dressing rooms across Europe.

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has defended his decision to leave Stephen Reid and Portsmouth’s Steve Finnan out of the 25-man squad for the World Cup qualifying play-off against France.

The FAI is waiting for word on Stephen Reid's latest injury worry, which is casting doubt over his availability for Saturday's vital World Cup clash with Italy.

Sean St Ledger’s previous performances for his country have convinced Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni that the Preston defender is ready to make the step up to International football.

SHOULD Giovanni Trapattoni feel the need to give his charges any extra motivation before their crunch World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria tonight, he could do worse than pin the thoughts of Nasko Sirakov on the wall in the dressing room in the Vassil Levksi stadium.

BEST moment from Bari? Ireland’s equalising goal certainly, but running it close in the precious memory stakes was a lovely little cameo I’d witnessed earlier on the afternoon of the game.

Liam Mackey is brushing up in his Italian, checking out his list of Puglian delicacies, and heading off for Southern Italy so perennial substitute ALLAN PROSSER takes up the role of mediator for today's Angry Fans.

IT’S not exactly on the same scale as Saipan — praise the Lord — but the footballing nation again finds itself split down the middle by an Irish midfielder for the first time since those unforgettable events on that Pacific Island six years ago.

THERE might have been a circumstance where B internationals didn’t mean an awful lot in the overall scheme of things — they still mightn’t perhaps, one could argue — but there was a sense of purpose about the Irish squad last night.

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni named the starting eleven to face Georgia this weekend in the team's opening World Cup qualifier in Germany.

STEVE STAUNTON apparently didn’t even know his phone number, now he finds himself the apple of Giovanni Trapattoni’s eye. Yep, the world sure has turned for Glenn Whelan.

The Republic of Ireland squad is flying to Norway tonight ahead of Wednesday's friendly clash in Oslo.

Arsenal 2 Blackburn 0

A decision is due to be taken today on whether Stephen Reid is fit to line out against Brazil in tomorrow's friendly clash at Croke Park.

Roque Santa Cruz could surprisingly retain his place in Blackburn’s starting XI for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League match with Reading.

STEVE STAUNTON’S Ireland side has “nothing to fear” when facing the World Cup semi-finalists in Stuttgart according to John O’Shea.

Ireland manager Steve Staunton has announced a 29-man squad for the friendly match with Chile in just over two weeks' time.

PARTLY out of choice and partly because his hand was forced by a combination of injuries and retirements, there is certainly a fresh green look to Steve Staunton's first Republic of Ireland squad, announced in Dublin on Thursday morning.

Racists sent vile hate mail to members of the Irish football squad while Brian Kerr was manager, it emerged today.

THE search for the new manager of the Republic of Ireland has begun in earnest with the first meeting of the FAI sub-committee which has been charged with scouting out contenders and making recommendations to the board.

IT’S D-Day for Brian Kerr. This afternoon at a Dublin hotel, the ten-man FAI Board of Management will meet to review the performance of the out-of-contract Irish manager, and the expectation is that he will not be given the second chance he craves.

Brian Kerr is expected to learn his fate tomorrow when the Football Association of Ireland meet to discuss the Republic of Ireland’s failure to reach next summer’s World Cup finals.

The Football Association of Ireland is being called upon to make a swift decision about the future of national team manager Brian Kerr.

COMETH the eleventh hour, cometh the eleven men.

Chelsea midfielder Damien Duff has been ruled out of Ireland's crucial World Cup qualifier against Switzerland at Lansdowne Road on Wednesday.

SKY SPORTS likes to call them “massive, massive games”; Brian Kerr has settled for “absolutely crucial”.

Steven Reid’s Blackburn career has been dogged by misfortune since he joined 18 months ago, but the Irish international midfielder is relishing a new lease of life that has seen him play a leading role in Blackburn’s drive to the FA Cup semi-finals.

Roy Keane came through his first training Irish session with “no problems” and flies to Poland with the rest of the team ahead of Wednesday’s friendly.

John O’Shea has given his full backing to Manchester United team-mate Roy Keane’s international return.

THE impressive Carling Cup displays of Graham Stack have earned the promising Arsenal youngster a call-up to the Irish squad for tomorrow night's friendly against Brazil.

Republic of Ireland 1 Russia 1

Millwall have reportedly agreed a £5m (€7m) fee with Blackburn Rovers for Irish international Stephen Reid.

Blackburn winger Damien Duff, Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given and Spurs striker Robbie Keane have been short-listed for this year's FAI Player of the Year award.

AFTER Roy Keane’s decision to quit Ireland, it will come as no surprise if Brian Kerr invests major responsibility in the youthful but substantial frame of Keane’s Manchester United colleague John O’Shea as he embarks upon a mission to create a bright new era when they play Scotland at Hampden Park tonight (8 p.m ).

By Neil Silver

Ian Harte has been replaced by World Cup debutant Stephen Reid after 78 minutes of play against Cameroon at Niigata.

Ian Harte has been replaced by World Cup debutant Stephen Reid after 78 minutes of play against Cameroon at Niigata.

Stephen Reid is happy to start on the bench on Saturday.

Life without Roy Keane got off to a bad start for Ireland as Jason McAteer picked up what looked like a serious injury, and the defence gave a way a cheap goal to their Japanese hosts.

Goals in each half saw Nigeria end Ireland’s two-year unbeaten home record in their last friendly before both teams go to the World Cup.

Stephen Reid, who was drafted into the squad in place of injured Mark Kennedy, has opened the scoring for Ireland against Nigeria.