Capper aiming to get club future sorted

REPUBLIC of Ireland U21 international Stephen Capper hopes to get his club future sorted out before his latest tilt at international success.

The Dublin-born Scarborough full-back is included in Don Givens’ in-form U21 side for tonight’s friendly against Bulgaria at United Park, Drogheda.

Capper is one of the nucleus of young Irishmen who boast considerable success at underage levels, but his club future is far less secure.

Capper said: “They want me to sign again and I am considering my options. I’m still at the club and playing for them and hopefully everything will be sorted in the next couple of days.”

Capper appeared as a substitute in last season’s FA Cup clash with Chelsea. He played in two European Championship finals at U16 level and was also prominent as the Irish reached the last four of the 2002 European U19s Championship and won the Madeira tournament in February.

Now Capper is focused on helping Ireland to the next European Championship, beginning with a qualification double-header against Cyprus and Switzerland in a fortnight’s time.

Capper said: “There’s a particularly good team spirit in the team because we have been together since we were 15.”

Longford Town’s Sean Dillon has been called into the Irish squad in place of Luton’s Kevin Foley, who has a groin injury.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (squad): Henderson (Aston Villa), Murphy (Swansea City), McStay (Leeds United), McCarthy (Manchester City), Fitzgerald (Blackburn Rovers), Capper (Scarborough), Dillon (Longford Town), Flood (Manchester City), Potter (Liverpool), Whelan (Sheffield Wednesday), Thornton (Sunderland), Kearney (Cork City), Doyle (Cork City), Elliott (Sunderland), Tabb (Brentford), McGeady (Celtic), Kendrick (Darlington), Mulligan (Wolverhampton Wanderers).