Kerr still working on formula

THE circus that surrounded the return of Roy packed up, Brian Kerr was in good spirits at Dublin Airport yesterday, as his Irish squad flew out for the second game in their exhausting nine-day schedule.

While there was a flying tackle or two in Thursday’s friendly, Kerr was pleased to announce a clean bill of health heading into this afternoon’s friendly against Nigeria in the Valley (3pm kick-off).

“Everybody is alright as regards injuries,” the Irish manager said. “There is nobody who will be ruled out. But it is tough going for the team, having to change venues and play a match Saturday afternoon after a game on Thursday evening.”

The two Unity Cup games offer Kerr an opportunity to assess Shay Given’s two under-studies, Nick Colgan and Paddy Kenny, Sheffield United’s highly-rated netminder. Given is expected to be back for the Dutch game next weekend. John O’Shea is, again, unlikely to feature but Kerr expects him to be back for Wednesday.

“It doesn’t give much of a recovery period for the players, but it is not that unusual a situation. At under-age level, players have to play two games within a couple of days, and it happens at club level, over the Christmas and Easter period.”

Apart from Given, Kerr will make a few outfield changes. Roy Keane has left the squad because of prior domestic commitments. This paves the way for Mark Kinsella to return to the Valley, where he was the heart-beat of the Charlton side for so long.

Addicks skipper Matt Holland, Thursday’s goal-scoring hero, is likely to partner Kinsella in the middle, with Liam Miller expected to retain his place before he undergoes a groin operation on Tuesday.

After a tiring season with Birmingham, Irish skipper Kenny Cunningham may be rested until Amsterdam, allowing Kerr to view other partnerships.

Andy O’Brien’s brilliantly controlled performance on Thursday means he is certain to be the second centre-half for the qualifiers. The Newcastle player, who has improved immeasurably this season, was superb in his reading of the game against the technical Romanians. Kerr may opt for Gary Doherty to partner him, as that duo has been used in training in the past week.

While there will be four changes from Thursday, Kerr won’t blood any new players against the Nigerians. “It is unlikely there will be any debutants on Saturday. We got Martin’s [Rowlands] debut out of the way against Romania; as for the other lads, we will see how we are. I have a picture in my mind of the team I want to play.”

Of course, that means Aiden McGeady, the latest wonder-boy, will have to wait until Wednesday for his first game. Engaged in a tug-of-war with the Scottish FA for the teenage sensation, the FAI are anxious to have McGeady capped, and Irish supporters are anxious to see how good he is.

“We are not going to throw Aiden into the rough and tumble of this game, or the Romanian game. He is developing all the time, and he will get a chance at some stage over the next few days. Obviously, with David Connolly involved in the play-off final, there is a chance for strikers.”

Kerr intimated he may call up either Glen Crowe or Jason Byrne, both involved in important eircom league games over the weekend, for the Jamaica game. His nascent team might be well covered in most sectors, but up front remains a slight problem.

“These games are a huge incentive for some of the players. It may take two or three years before they establish themselves as internationals on a regular basis but this is a great opportunity for them. And if we beat Nigeria, that would represent a hell of a week’s work.”

Of course, Roy Keane had to come up and Kerr smiled at the question. “It was great the way he wanted to get forward. I had seen him in the last match he played before the Cup Final, against Liverpool, and he wanted to get forward as much as possible.

“In the past, he would have played a holding role in midfield, protector of the back four, but against Romania, he wanted to get up there and get a goal from early on in the game. It was good to see.”