Reid it and leap

DEBUTS have been like the London Tube since Steve Staunton became Ireland manager: miss one and you won’t have to wait too long for another to whizz by.

Nearly 20 players have been introduced to international football in the last 19 months as Staunton attempts to build a squad capable of qualifying for a first major finals since the 2002 World Cup.

Some of them — Joe Lapira anyone? — won’t feature too frequently on the road to South Africa but newcomers like Paul McShane, Kevin Doyle and, hopefully, Stephen Ireland should be vital components in the years ahead.