Staunton to select a blend of old and new

STEVE STAUNTON will announce his first Republic of Ireland squad in Dublin this morning, as preparations intensify for the friendly against Sweden at Lansdowne Road on March 1 - Staunton’s debut as international team manager.

Staunton flew into Dublin last night after watching the Irish U21 team draw 1-1 with hosts Madeira in the first game of an invitational tournament on Tuesday. Missing from manager Don Givens’ side was Manchester City’s rising star Stephen Ireland, who pulled out of the trip with a groin strain. However, assuming the injury is not too serious, Cobh-born Ireland can expect his first senior call-up, as perhaps can fellow young midfielder Joey O’Brien of Bolton Wanderers.

Looking to blend old and new for his first game in charge, Staunton could opt for an enlarged squad with a view not only to experimenting in the Swedish match itself but also as a way of acquainting his charges with the new Irish management team in what will be their first sustained period of time together.

Certainly, Staunton won’t be short of options up front, with regulars Robbie Keane and Clinton Morrison on the scoring trail at the weekend for Spurs and Crystal Palace, while Reading’s in-form striker Kevin Doyle is entitled to look forward to a senior debut against the Swedes.

It remains to be seen if the game comes too soon for Stephen Elliott, whose anticipated comeback for Sunderland remains on hold. The Dubliner, who made a significant impact in the latter stages of the World Cup campaign, is back in training after a long lay-off with a back injury, and was due to start for Sunderland reserves against Manchester City on Tuesday night.

However, manager Mick McCarthy decided it would be too risky to play Elliott and the striker will now target next Tuesday’s reserve game against Aston Villa instead.

“He’s not been training long enough,” said McCarthy. “It would be ridiculous to risk him after being out so long.”

Also staking a claim for attacking berths in the squad will be Alan Lee, whose four goals in six games for Ipswich could earn him a recall, Swansea ace Lee Trundle, who has made no secret of his desire to play for the Republic, and Coventry City’s winger cum striker Gary McSheffrey, although the latter, who is also eligible for Scotland and England, hardly helped his cause with recent remarks that it was a case of ‘first come first served’ as regards his international future.

Staunton will definitely be without Andy Reid, John O’Shea and Aiden McGeady, who are all ruled out through injury, but he will be relieved to be able to call on the experience of goalkeeper Shay Given, who is expected to be named today as the new Irish captain, following the retirement of Kenny Cunningham.