Kerr happy as battle for places hots up

NOTWITHSTANDING the absence of Roy Keane and Stephen Carr, manager Brian Kerr says that the Republic of Ireland team he fields tonight against Portugal at Lansdowne Road “won’t be too far” from the strongest 11 he has in mind for next month’s World Cup qualifier in Israel.

Kerr confirmed that Robbie Keane and Clinton Morrison will start up front tonight, with Damien Duff and Andy Reid providing the width, in a return to the 4-4-2 formation he abandoned for last November's friendly against Croatia.

However Kerr said he still has decisions to make about central midfield and the centre-half pairing, and also indicated that a number of changes will be made during the game as six changes are allowed.

While goalkeeper Joe Murphy returned to Walsall for treatment on a groin injury yesterday, the only question mark about a first-choice player concerned Kevin Kilbane, who missed training after shipping a few knocks on Sunday.

However, Kerr insisted that fatigue was Kilbane's main concern, and that his failure to train was precautionary.

But if the newly crowned eircom/FAI Player of Year doesn't start tonight, then Matt Holland returning for Ireland for the first time since the 0-1 win in Amsterdam last June could be partnered by Graham Kavanagh or Man United's Liam Miller in the centre of midfield.

And at the back, in-form Richard Dunne could use tonight's game to mount a serious challenge to the Andy O' Brien/Kenny Cunningham partnership which has been ever-present for Ireland in the World Cup qualifiers. "These are nice problems," said Kerr of the competition for places.

In attack, Kerr keeps faith with Clinton Morrison, one of the stars of Ireland's World Cup campaign, despite being dropped by Steve Bruce at Birmingham after the signings of strikers, Robbie Blake and Walter Pandiani.

However, Bruce has made it clear he wants Morrison to sign a new contract, admitting that leaving him out was probably harsh.

"It's unlike a manager to admit that," quipped Kerr. "I'm sure it's upsetting for him to be left out but if the manager is offering him a new contract and saying that he still has a big future, I'm sure he'll be back in the team. The key is that Clinton has improved as an all round centre-forward."

With Damien Duff set to collect his 50th cap tonight, Kerr was happy to pay tribute to the Dubliner's achievement.

"I think it's been immense. Also that someone so young 25 should get to 50 caps when you think of, maybe, Chris Hughton getting 53 caps in 13 years with the Irish squad. His performances have been fantastic.

"His consistency, his desire to play for the international team, his love for playing and doing his stuff, and his work rate and honesty in terms of defending and attacking he's a special talent. And he's right on top of his game at the moment.

"I think there was a huge challenge for him at Chelsea. I remember at the beginning when he went and he probably had a little feeling that it might be hard for him to be in the team, a fear looking at the type of players they were signing, but he has risen to that challenge.

"And I personally had no doubts about it. He has shown that he has the mental strength and the physical ability as well as the technical ability to not only survive but be a top player."

Kerr was not surprised to see Andy Reid and Robbie Keane linking up so effectively for Spurs on their first outing as club mates. And a question about their combination for that splendid third goal at the weekend, inspired a moment of Dublin nostalgia on Kerr's part.

"They've looked comfortable playing together for us from the beginning. When Damien, Robbie and Andy have linked up, I think it's been some of the most exciting stuff that we've seen for a long time. They are those sort of street-type players that you would have imagined played a lot of 'lamper' in the old days.

"For those that need interpretation, 'lamper' involved trying to hit a skinny lamp post with the ball. They have that style about them. But certainly it does us no harm that Andy is going to play with Robbie at club level."

Returning to tonight's game, Kerr repeated his belief that Portugal are "a class act" and allowed that if there was any hint of the opposition over-running the Irish in midfield, he would consider tucking in another player in the middle.

"But we've generally handled that well. The team has become more used to handling teams that don't play 4-4-2, with both Robbie and Clinton adapting particularly well.

"We've also had a much higher workrate and tempo around the midfield than previously."