Trap waits on Reid as Whelan gets the nod

STEVEN REID’S almost year-long wait to resume his international career will be extended at least until this morning when the Blackburn Rovers midfielder undergoes a late fitness test to see if he will be fit to play against Norway in the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo this evening (6pm Irish time).

Giovanni Trapattoni said yesterday he was confident Reid, who picked up a knock in training two days ago, would make the cut but, should he fail to do so, Liam Miller will take his place. And in what can be perceived as at least a temporary blow to Ireland’s other Reid, Andy, the Ireland manager has opted to stick with Stoke City’s Glenn Whelan – who played against both Serbia and Colombia.

While Trapattoni allowed that the Sunderland midfielder could yet play a part this evening, or in other games, his general comments seemed to indicate he favours a more physical and defensively-minded central combination.

“At the moment I have to try to put out a strong team and it’s not easy to suddenly change five or six players,” he said. “I’m looking for a team with character, with the right mentality and with good organisation on the pitch. We have enough offensive players like Robbie, Doyle, Duff and McGeady. The strong teams in the world, their midfield players are very, very strong. They can work, they can play, they can support the strikers, and we need those kinds of players in midfield. This is why I also think about Steven Reid.”

Otherwise, Trapattoni’s selection sees the expected injection of vast experience with the return of Steve Finnan, Shay Given and Kevin Kilbane, alongside Richard Dunne and John O’Shea.

Skipper Robbie Keane said he was especially pleased by the return from brief retirement of right-back Finnan.

“He’s a great right-back and everyone in the squad is happy to have him back,” said Keane.

And Keane was equally enthused about the state of the national side in general as they go into the last warm-up game before the start of the World Cup qualifiers next month.

“This squad is as strong as any we’ve had in the last four or five years,” he said. “A lot of players are playing in the Premiership and that can only help. In the past few years we just haven’t been good enough, it’s as simple as that.”

Aston Villa’s injured striker John Carew is rated a 50-50 starter for Norway while they will definitely be without Rosenborg’s Steffen Iversen who was dropped by coach Aage Hareide after breaking curfew two nights ago.