Finnan to join squad despite fitness fears

CONTRARY to earlier reports about the player's fitness, Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr says he expects Steve Finnan to join up with the squad in advance of the World Cup qualifiers against Israel and the Faroe Islands.

The Liverpool full-back, who was substituted during the Champions' League final triumph in Istanbul, was reported to have been struggling with a thigh problem, but speaking yesterday ahead of an Irish selection's participation in the Jackie McNamara testimonial in Celtic Park tomorrow, Kerr said that Finnan will report for duty next week.

"He went into the match with slight tightness in his thigh," said Kerr.

"He had a scan early this morning, which showed nothing serious. Our doctor Alan Byrne has spoken to Liverpool's doctor and they said that he will report to us next week as normal."

Leicester's Alan Maybury is receiving treatment for a back injury but is expected to join up on Tuesday.

Spurs' Robbie Keane and Andy Reid arrived yesterday, and the Manchester United trio of Roy Keane, John O'Shea and Liam Miller arrive today.

Back in the squad after a long and controversial absence is Ian Harte, who played his final club game of the season with Levante in Spain on Sunday.

"Ian was always close to being in the squad," said Kerr. "And when we lost Richard Dunne, Ian was the next defender. He's been playing in a good league, has experience and he's always played well for us."

And on the subject of Harte's criticisms that the manager had ignored him, Kerr contented himself with a wry smile and the remark, greeted by laughter: "Ah, sometimes you could do with a bag of soothers at times."

With a 21-man squad, Kerr is set to break with the habits of a lifetime in coaching tomorrow.

"I may even use all the players that will be there, if that's practical. I don't like to break up matches with intermittent substitutions but it will be my intention to make probably five or six changes at half-time. Hopefully, everyone will get a spell on the pitch.

"The result wouldn't be important. The main thing is it's an opportunity to get the players playing between the end of the season in England and the first World Cup game against Israel on Saturday week.

"That was the main reason we agreed to the match - and respecting Jackie McNamara's service to Celtic."

And on the subject of Celtic's dramatic end to the season - losing the SPL almost as sensationally as AC Milan lost the Champions League, and then seeing the departure of Martin O'Neill - Kerr said he does not believe the club is in turmoil.

"The change of manager has been done smoothly. Usually in a situation like that there's an awful lot of speculation for a long time, but they seemed to have handled that well.

"I think Gordon Strachan is very familiar with Scottish football and the whole Celtic ethos, and I think it will be a smooth enough changeover, albeit not one that Celtic would have wanted given the marvellous job that Martin O' Neill has done there.

"I'm sure they're concentrating on trying to win the cup so that they can end the season with at least one of the major trophies."