Hibs’ Colgan to get chance

BRIAN KERR yesterday saluted the huge contribution made to Ireland’s cause over the past six years by Shay Given as the goalkeeper prepared to make his 50th international appearance against Norway at Lansdowne Road tonight.

Given is certain to receive a rapturous reception from at least 35,000 fans when he departs to make way for Hibs' Nick Colgan as Kerr takes the opportunity to expose some of Ireland's back-up players to the rigours of a full international contest.

The need for Colgan to be given experience in a hurry was made acute by the unexpected retirement of Dean Kiely last week, which left Ireland suddenly short of experience in a position where they had an embarrassment of riches as recently as last summer's World Cup.

Kerr stressed, however, that he will keep his quest for experimentation to a minimum, as he made it clear that his first priority is to maintain Ireland's surge in three matches under his management by beating Norway.

A win would also help to restore the happy association with fans who quickly turned on the team when they lost to Switzerland in the European Championship last October. The reaction of the fans was a bitter experience for the players for they had not lost in Dublin in competition for eight years, since they lost to Austria in 1995.

"The crowd can help us out. The combination of the team playing well and the fervent support behind them has been difficult for other countries to deal with at Lansdowne and I hope we can get back to that pitch in the next few games."

He spoke of the part Givens has to play in Ireland's future "Shay is a smashing goalkeeper. He had a great World Cup. He played well for us in the games in Georgia and Albania recently, and he has been having a very good season at Newcastle.

"That is a lot of caps to put together as such a young age, but when goalkeepers get the slot in the team they are not as easy to dislodge. They are also less likely to get injuries than other players and that makes it easier for them to build up their caps.

"In previous times you would have had to play into your 30s to get to 50 caps, but nowadays there are a lot more games because the team has been successful and because of the programme of matches, so the opportunity is there to knock up more caps; but it is still a great achievement to get 50 at the age of 27."

Kerr would not reveal what his team selection will be for opponents who are certain to give Ireland a tough, physical contest. He confirmed that Richard Dunne will return to partner Gary Breen now that Kenny Cunningham and John O'Shea are not available and it seems certain that Stephen Carr and Ian Harte will be at full-back.

The absence of O'Shea is a particular disappointment for he has been brilliant for Manchester United recently and his experiences against Georgia and Albania showed that the more international experience he acquires quickly, the better he will be.

As well, it means that we will have to wait to see if Kerr will try him in midfield, which may well be where his international future lies. Kerr last weekend watched David Connolly score twice for Wimbledon, and it will come as no surprise if he gives him a first start under the new management team alongside Robbie Keane. This would free Damien Duff up to operate as he did for Kerr at underage level, just behind the centre-forwards in a free role.

Ireland will play Georgia and Albania in the European Championship in Dublin in June and as both matches must be won, he will have to set up a pattern of play that will yield goals. Hence, the importance of using Duff as a provider of chances.

Kerr would not admit Duff's intended role, but he did say: "The whole approach when we are at home is to be more attacking and more attack-minded than in our last two games. We need to be patient and we can't be reckless, but I want us to be a strong attacking force like the Irish team has been at Lansdowne Road for many a year now.

"Lansdowne is an intimidating place when it is packed and I want it to become even more intimidating for the opposition.

"Lots of factors come into winning games at home. Ireland have had good players, good managers and passionate crowds, and the crowd is a big factor. Everybody knows we haven't always had the players who, on paper, look better than other teams, but it's about the application and desire when they go on to the pitch and we have been good at that in general in Irish sport, not just soccer, because we are a nation with a small population, in all sports."

He admitted he will have to battle his emotions before the game and said: "It is a great day for anyone who has ever been involved with me in football, that has ever played with me, coached with me or helped me out along the way, and I know they think it is great to have someone they know taking charge of the senior team. (However) the most important thing for me is the performance and the result, irrespective of the emotions."