When the going gets tough, Doherty gets going

Brendan O’Brien

For those in charge of the countries involved, June is perhaps the worst time of all.

June is that tiny window just after one season has breathed its last and before another trundles into view. When Ireland walk out to face the Israelis at Lansdowne Road on Saturday evening it will have been three weeks since most of them have kicked a ball in anger.

Switching back on for two games no matter how crucial can be far from easy.

For players accustomed to playing two games per week, 21 days twiddling their thumbs must seem like a lifetime and Ireland's exertions two summers ago is ample evidence of how tough these games can be.

Only a 90th minute own-goal by Albania's Ariaj ensured three points in Dublin before Ireland stuttered to a 2-0 win over Georgia four days later.

"I think that's where the Celtic game last week is going to help us," said Gary Doherty, who declared himself fit for Saturday despite taking a knock on the knee earlier in training.

"I think that will be beneficial. It's got that bit of rustiness out and got us going again and training has been really, really sharp this week as well.

"A lot of the lads have had three weeks off but they've all been at a really good level so I don't think the break will be a hindrance to us. If anything, it might have freshened us up a bit."

By the time Norwich City's season ended with agonising relegation on the last day, Doherty had been kicking his heels on the bench for a number of months.

"It was hard towards the end. The lads started playing well, we started to score a lot of goals and it looked like we'd really given ourselves the chance of staying up. It was one of those things that we just didn't really turn up on the last day of the season.

"For me personally it was a bad few months. If you're not involved you have to keep yourself ticking over fitness wise just in case you're called on. Now I feel like I'm at a good fitness level and I'm over it."

Doherty's contract at the club runs for another 24 months with an option for one more year but there are rumours that he has already been made available for prospective buyers this summer.

"I've not heard anything. Obviously it's difficult when you're over here. You don't really know what's going on back home. I've not really been aware of it. I'm not that fussed, to be honest. I just wanted to get over here and represent my country and that's what I'm focused on, not my Norwich career."

The 25-year old is no stranger to the sideline, whether with Spurs, Norwich or even Ireland, where he has failed to play 90 minutes in all but 25 of his 30 caps. Maybe it's that past experience, maybe it's just his character, but his attitude to it all is admirable.

"The manager (Nigel Worthington) took the decision to leave me out and the lad that came in did very well, he performed. It's just one of those things that you have to face in football."

Ireland has been good for Doherty at such tough times in the past but he has been good for Ireland as well. During the last European Championship campaign, he donned Tony Cascarino's old supersub striker role to good effect, particularly against Georgia, where he scored at home and away. He isn't fussy about playing up front this week either.

"It's obviously harder coming in when you've not had a good season and I did struggle towards the end of last season, but I'm here for a reason and hopefully if I'm called upon in the next two games I can do a job. If I'm called upon to go up front again then I'm happy to do that. It's gone well for me being up front for Ireland and I enjoy doing it."

It's clear that he is more comfortable discussing Ireland than he is his club, but that isn't anything new for many an Irish player back home on international duty. Israel is the focus now, after that the Faroes and only then will Norwich take centre stage again.

"I thought we played well out there (in Tel Aviv) and we controlled the game. They got a late goal but it was still a good result.

At home I think we're all confident.

"Defensively they're very strong and away from home they've got good results in difficult places. We've got to take and really be sharpening up on them, getting to know them."