Dunne’s time has come

IN the normal course of events, an Irish squad stripped of Roy Keane, Stephen Carr, Andy Reid, Clinton Morrison, Andy O’Brien and Matt Holland would have the headlines screaming about a personnel crisis for Brian Kerr.

But for tonight’s game against Croatia, the manager’s difficulty is an opportunity.

In truth, injuries notwithstanding, Kerr intended to use this friendly as a chance to blend the old with the new, to recall familiar faces and blood some new ones.

Richard Dunne, who can be counted one of the old guard even though he has amassed just 20 caps, will partner Kenny Cunningham in the centre of defence, signalling the official international rebirth of a player enjoying his best ever form at club level for Manchester City.

At the other end of the pitch, fans can look forward to seeing - perhaps from the start - the senior international debut of Stephen Elliott, the 20-year-old Sunderland striker who has scored eight times in his first season at the club, and who will be looking to take his record-breaking U-21 strike rate to the highest level.

Elsewhere, there are pieces of the jigsaw which will only be filled when Kerr announces his team tonight, but Manchester United’s Liam Miller will start in the centre of midfield, gaining his seventh cap. There is also a strong possibility that Celtic’s Aiden McGeady and Sheffield United’s goalkeeper Paddy Kenny will see action during the 90 minutes.

Asked about McGeady yesterday, Brian Kerr praised his “fast feet, his ability to produce magic in tight situations and his eye for a goal”.

With Shay Given a late arrival - “like the baby,” quipped Kerr - the manager intends to talk to him and goalkeeping coach Packie Bonner before deciding who should start between the posts.

Coventry City’s Graham Barrett suggested yesterday his natural position is as a striker rather than a midfielder, where he has impressed for his club, and he’s another candidate for inclusion, but Man City’s Jonathan Macken remains a doubt as he recovers from a back problem.

With Ireland’s next competitive game the World Cup clash in Israel on March 26, tonight’s fixture offers a stand-alone chance for Brian Kerr to engage in some modest experimentation.

The fact that Andy O’Brien was a late withdrawal with a hamstring injury after Newcastle United’s defeat by Manchester United on Sunday has merely confirmed Kerr’s plan to change things at the back. Hence the first start in a year for Dunne, whose last cap came against Canada in October 2003.

“I think he’s playing very well,” said Kerr, although he added the 25-year-old Dubliner can always benefit from playing alongside a more experienced partner.

“He’s not always the most vocal of players as a centre-half. He’s not the best organiser of players - he’s inclined to get on with his own job. He’ll tackle and defend and head the ball and clear it, but he doesn’t play the game of a loudmouth centre-half. But his form has been good in the matches I’ve seen and his physical condition is much sharper and leaner than it was. He also has to be aware of keeping his concentration levels high. Richard has had to wait his turn and his opportunity is coming now.”

Regarding Ireland’s attacking options, Kerr said that new Spurs boss Martin Jol’s preference for an open, attacking style should suit Robbie Keane.

“The way Martin Jol sends his team out will help Robbie to be more in the action and get more goals. But the other side of that is that Robbie has certainly been taking on the responsibilities of different roles in the team very well, which is good for him. He understands he can’t always play out and out as a front man and if he’s asked to play other roles, he takes them on, and I’m very happy to see him play that way. But he’s continued to score goals for us, which is the main job he has.”

The prospect of seeing Ireland’s leading scorers at U-21 and senior level on the same pitch is one of the most tantalising aspects of tonight’s game. Kerr has already said he would have no problem in starting Elliot, a player who has already shown he can punch above his perceived weight at club and underage international level.

However, the manager could yet be tempted to start with Gary Doherty before giving the tyro a run.

But that’s what tonight’s game is all about for Kerr and his evolving Irish team. While a good performance and a positive result are the goals, the visit of an improving Croatia is useful in allowing Kerr to assess his long-term options, as he looks to the resumption of the World Cup qualifying competition next year.

Kerr said: “The fact that we used so few players in the four qualification games - only 12 or 13 started and we used the subs sparingly as well - means the opportunity with this game is to give some other players a chance and see can we reproduce the consistency of performance we’ve had going back to last November, irrespective of who plays. There’s not going to be that much change but there will be some.

“That’s the key thing - it’s a chance to try a few things we haven’t been able to do over the last few matches.”