Byrne and Dixon may get chance to impress
Clinton Morrison (knee) and Alan Lee (hamstring) will miss the game.
With just five recognised strikers including U21 Jay Tabb of Brentford now available to him, it’s expected that new Irish manager Steve Staunton will start with Robbie Keane and Reading’s Kevin Doyle up front. Although he could choose to push Damien Duff forward, it’s likely that he will turn to Byrne and possibly even Dixon at some point against the South Americans.
If the Spurs striker does make his debut, at just 16 he will become the youngest player ever capped at senior level for the Republic.
Commenting on his imposing physique yesterday, Staunton commented: “He’s a bit of a boy, alright, and he’s done okay.”
The Irish squad once again trained at the Municipal Stadium in Lagos under blue skies and a blazing sun, with a cooling sea breeze helping to take the edge off the heat.
With news from home of torrential rain over recent days, Staunton had no reason to regret the decision to bring the squad to Portugal for their training camp.
“We wouldn’t have been able to work had we been at home but that was just pure luck,” he said.
“The lads would have been cooped up in a hotel in Dublin, not even able to train on the pitches.
“You’re always guaranteed better weather over here.”
Having flown in the day after the defeat by Derry City at the Brandywell, Cork City midfielder Joe Gamble trained for the first time with the senior squad yesterday.
A number of Irish schoolchildren attended the session as part of an eircom promotional campaign.
And as a special reward for the kids, Staunton ensured that they got to take on the likes of Graham Kavanagh, Damien Duff and others in a game of five a side at the end of the afternoon training session.
Suddenly, even Terry Dixon looked quite the veteran.
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