Last man still standing

SHAY GIVEN, who was at the centre of an injury scare yesterday, is expected to be fit to play against Switzerland tomorrow night.

"Shay had an x-ray and scan on his injured foot," said manger Brian Kerr. "This revealed no bone damage but there is some soft tissue swelling. We're confident that he will be fit to play."

The dubious wisdom of goalkeepers venturing outside their box seemed to have been starkly illustrated at training in Malahide when, during a five-a-side, Given took a knock to his foot in a challenge with Gary Doherty. The goalkeeper received treatment on the spot, and there were fears that the "friendly fire" incident might prove serious enough to rule him out.

The 'keeper himself let it be known that he didn't think the bruising on his foot would keep him out of a game which already sees Ireland having to cope without Roy Keane and Damien Duff.

With the blow of losing the Chelsea man still fresh, Kerr was quick to dismiss any suggestion that Ireland might be a one-man team.

"Damien has missed matches before," he said. "And before Damien, people might have considered us a one-man team with Roy. But I think that's rubbish. No team can be effective without 11 players working very hard and with good players all around the pitch. We'll get over the fact we're missing Damien. It's a huge disappointment, as it is with Roy. But we'll get over it."

Matt Holland one of the few Irish players to have emerged with credit from Saturday's performance in Nicosia was keen to accentuate the positive, arguing that against the Swiss, of all teams, Ireland will have a point to prove.

"We definitely owe them one," he said, referring in particular to the 2-0 defeat in Basel in October 2003, a game which ended Irish hopes of qualifying for the 2004 European Championship.

"That was a disappointing campaign in full and it was tough to take after such a good World Cup. But it's down to a one-off game, a cup final if you like and it's up to ourselves to get the right result."

In a team patently short of leadership material, Holland could have a major responsibility to shoulder, if selected.

"If selected, that's the big question," he pointed out, as Brian Kerr acknowledged that he had some "big decisions" to make. Holland went on: "Hopefully I am selected and if that's the case then, of course, there's a big onus on the more experienced players, the older heads, the ones with the most caps, and I obviously come into that category. It's a game that everyone should look forward to. Everyone in the squad wants to be in that starting eleven and, if you are, you've got a big responsibility.

"I don't know what the future holds for me but I'd certainly like to play in another World Cup. I had a great experience in Japan and Korea and it would be great to emulate that."

In order to do that, however, Ireland now need to cope without their single most creative talent, Duff.

"Damien's going to be a big loss of course because he's such a talented player," said Holland. "And for the opposition, seeing his name not on the team sheet will probably give them a boost. But we've got a lot of good players in the squad and whoever plays will give their all to try and get the right result.

"And in the way that they might be boosted by Damien's absence, we get a slight boost from the fact that Hakan Yakin is out for them. Because he is a decent player and he has been good against us. When there's two up front and one in behind that's sometimes a difficult position to pick up."

Holland said he was surprised at the speculation surrounding Kerr's position, considering that Ireland are still in contention for a place in Germany.

"Yeah, I think Brian's done a good job in charge. Going into the last game now, we're still in with a chance of qualifying for the World Cup. So you try not to dwell too much on the speculation."

As for his own fitness for the fray, the Charlton player confirms: "I'm desperate to play in the game. I've played bits and pieces a couple of reserve games, a full game in the Carling Cup, 20 minutes against Chelsea. So it was good for me to play 45 minutes on Saturday. That match fitness is something you can't buy. I've had three knocks since the start of the season shoulder, back, ribs. Fortunately, all three of them feel good now and you'd think I could last 90 minutes.

"This is such a massive fixture for us now. Brian is desperate to manage in the World Cup. We're desperate to play in the World Cup. The supporters are desperate to get to the World Cup. We're all united in this. And all we need is now is three points on Wednesday."

David Connolly, another player who featured in that disappointing 2-0 defeat in Basel two years ago, reckons Ireland can show strength in adversity.

"We've got very good players," he said. "This is a tense time for the lads and on Saturday we knew it was going to be difficult but we got the three points. On Wednesday, we'll be under pressure to get a result at home but it's been like that for the last few years and we've done it before. The lads are really looking forward to it.

"The Swiss are a really good side. We know it will be a tough game, as was the Dutch game from a couple of years ago. When the pressure is on the lads seem to really thrive on it so hopefully we can do the same again."