Qualification dream can still be realised, insists upbeat Kelly

IF there was one man who dominated the headlines the last time Ireland played the Czech Republic it was the then West Brom employee Paul McShane.

But he isn’t the only recent addition to Steve Staunton’s squad who can look back on that as a seminal night.

Stephen Kelly made his international debut in the friendly against Chile in May of last year. It was a difficult experience for the Birmingham City player, particularly the first half hour when his nerves and inexperience at that level were there for all to see.

Switched from right to left back for his competitive debut against the Czechs, the 24-year-old fared better and he consolidated his arrival in the international game over the summer with appearances against Ecuador, Bolivia and Denmark.

Saturday’s draw against Slovakia again found him at left-back and, though he settled into the task, the opening stages suggest that he still has some way to go before the learning curve is complete.

Tentative in possession, he also displayed a tendency to turn his back on opponents running down his wing but he shrugs off suggestions that the change of touchlines makes his job any more difficult.

“I’ve done it often enough to be able to go over (to left back) and do the job,” he said. “The last time I played there in the qualifying campaign was at home against the Czechs which went well.

“I’ve played three or four games at left back for Birmingham this season and in America for Ireland as well. I’m more than capable of playing anywhere across the back four.”

He is more than happy with his progress at international level since that first cap against the South Americans. For that he credits his decision to leave Spurs and move to the Midlands in June last year.

“I was in and out at Tottenham and it was down to me as to what I wanted to do. Not playing every week wasn’t an option, I wanted first-team football and that’s what Steve Bruce approached me with. He said they only intended to spend one year in the Championship and all my goals were achieved.

“I was part of the team that got promoted and I played almost every game. I was delighted. Now we’re back in the Premiership and I’ve played every game so far. Once I’m playing with my club things with Ireland tend to go from there.”

He may be relatively new to international football at this level but he has represented Ireland in Prague — and Bratislava — before with the U-17s and he returns to the Czech capital with confidence despite Saturday’s late body blow.

A draw, he suggests, wouldn’t end Ireland’s chances of qualifying though it would leave them at the mercy of results elsewhere. A win then is everything and he feels it is a result which can be achieved.

“We’ve put in some good performances coming into this game. We’ve pulled ourselves back into the group. We were a bit shaky at the start but we are still in a good position to qualify for this campaign.

“The team has played well. We’re capable of scoring goals away from home, which we have shown. It’s just about cutting out the sloppy things that we have done. We know what they’re like. We drew with them in Dublin and probably should have won that game.”

The one possible outcome he refuses to speculate on is a defeat. The Czechs come to the table without their main attacking threat after Jan Koller’s sending off in San Marino on Wednesday night but they don’t lack for players of the highest calibre despite the general feeling that they are not the same vintage as the side that competed in Euro 2004.

They can still boast players who ply their trades in Europe’s top leagues with England, Italy, France, Germany, Russia, Belgium and their own domestic league all represented.

The ace in the hole — literally — is Tomas Rosicky. Though only 26, the Arsenal player has amassed 66 caps for his country and his creative talents dovetail with an impressive record of 16 goals.

“I played against him the last time we played the Czech Republic but I haven’t played him against Arsenal. He’s more in the hole for the Czechs in that number 10 role where he usually feeds off Koller. He’s obviously a player that can cause problems and one we will have to look out for. In the last game I felt that midfield nullified him. We kept him to a limited number of chances and time on the ball which is what we need to do again. If you stop their playmakers you’ve got a great chance.”