Duff's wide role in training causes speculation

DAMIEN DUFF played wide on the right of midfield throughout Ireland's training session yesterday, but it would be foolish to assume that he will fill that role in the match in Basel.

Manager Brian Kerr is notorious for sending out conflicting team selection messages at Irish training sessions and it is certain that he was very conscious that yesterday's work-out in a local stadium in Basel was closely monitored by his opponents.

Kerr used a great variety of different formations but was not prepared to concede that because Duff's accommodation on the right was the sole constant feature of the session that it carried special significance.

The only concession he was prepared to make to the press afterwards was that every player in his squad was fit and available for selection and that he had settled on his team selection.

Kerr was much less reticent when asked to comment on the support offered the squad by team captain Kenny Cunningham. He is not eligible to play because of suspension, but requested to make the trip to offer his support.

"It's nice to see we have a squad of players who want to be part of it that even if they are not playing they are prepared to give a bit of their free time to the team," said Kerr. "I think that's a bit natural, though. It is a fairly common thing to hear players not wanting to turn up if they cannot play, but the desire of Robbie Keane to play in Albania (after losing his father) said an awful lot for him and an awful lot for his family as well that he wanted to play.

"He wanted to come to the last game against Russia even though he was injured and I would expect that from him and from Kenny."

Kerr conceded, however, he would need to check how far he could allow Cunningham's involvement develop without breaching UEFA rules governing suspended players.

In the meantime, Hakan Yakin will decide today if he is fit for Switzerland's Group 10 showdown.

"I won't play on Saturday unless I can train normally on Friday," said the 26-year-old playmaker, as he tried to shake off an ankle injury sustained eight days ago.

"The ligaments are healed, but my left foot is still swollen," added Yakin, who is having intensive physiotherapy in his fight to be fit.

Yakin's doctor sees little prospect of the Swiss star playing the whole match.

"If he plays, the extent of his involvement will depend on the condition of the pitch," said Dr Heinz Buhlmann. "Heavy conditions would be bad for him." Tomorrow is forecast to be cloudy with occasional sunshine in Basel.

Striker Alex Frei scored with two free kicks and a penalty as the squad beat FC Zurich Reserves 3-0 in a practice match on Wednesday night. The hat-trick was a timely boost for the out-of-favour Rennes forward, whose place is under threat from FC Basel hotshot Marco Streller.

There was no place for Stephane Henchoz in the 11 that started the warm-up game.

Patrick Muller partnered Murat Yakin in central defence, just as he did in Dublin last year.