Givens: U-21s just a step from senior call-up

REPUBLIC of Ireland U-21 manager Don Givens has told his players they could be just one game away from a senior call-up if they put on a show against Portugal in their opening European Championship qualifier at Turner’s Cross tomorrow night (ko 7.30pm).

Senior boss Steve Staunton has put the whole U-21 squad on standby, and Givens has declared that the underage route can bring quick reward with a full international call-up.

“I’m sure they realise the step to the senior squad is now a smaller step. To come in and produce the goods at this level means they are not very far away at all.”

Givens put his young stars through their paces at a training session in Cork last night and the team will be picked at lunchtime tomorrow. Six of the squad arrived late having been in club action earlier this week.

Ireland are seeded fourth in a tough but exciting five-team group, also featuring Portugal, England, Bulgaria and Montenegro. England visit Turner’s Cross next month in Ireland’s next game.

Portugal have lost Manchester United star Nani to the senior ranks, but boast senior squad experience with Sporting Lisbon’s Miguel Veloso and Valencia’s Manuel Fernandes, formerly at Everton.

Givens has been in regular contact with Staunton to ensure players will not be elevated to the senior squad to “sit in the stands” as Stan’s men take on Slovakia in Bratislava on Saturday and the Czech Republic in Prague next Wednesday.

“I had a good long talk with Steve, he’s never going to take them to have them sitting in the stand. He knows boys like that need international football, and international football against Portugal and England is bloody good experience. There’s no point in them 21 or 22-years-of-age sitting in the stand when they could have played for me the night before.”

There is a depth of talent remaining in this Ireland U-21 squad, including Celtic’s Darren O’Dea, Ipswich’s former Irish Examiner Junior Sports Star Billy Clarke, while 18-year-old centre half Darren Dennehy is hoping to create a bit of county history tomorrow night. An appearance against Portugal would make him the first Kerryman to represent Ireland in a competitive fixture at this level.

“My brother Billy (a left-sided midfielder at Sunderland) came on in a friendly tournament in Portugal last summer alright but no one has played competitively at this level so it would be great,” said Dennehy, who hails from Tralee.

The call-up came as a bit of shock to Darren, who turns 19 at the end of the month. “I was talking to Billy online through the computer. He must have been looking at the website, seen the squad, and he just said ‘you’re in it’. I looked at it and saw my name.”

The big centre half is well rated at Everton, and has been learning from the club’s most experienced pros. “Alan Stubbs helps a lot with us. You can learn a lot from it. Stubbs comes along to all our reserve games now as well and talks to me one-on-one, tells me what I’m doing, good and bad. It’s a big help,” says Dennehy, who played Gaelic Football with Tralee club Austin Stacks before devoting himself to soccer full-time, while his father Willie was a prominent football star with Listowel Emmetts.

Tickets for tomorrow night’s game are reported to be selling well but will be available on the night, but are available in advance through Ticketmaster.

Adult tickets will cost €25 and €10 for children. Supporters can avail of a special discount by buying tickets for both matches against Portugal and England — €40 for entrance to both matches.