In-form Garvan relishing big chance

NEWLY-CROWNED Republic of Ireland U21 player of the year, Owen Garvan, is hoping he can replicate his club form for Don Givens in his last year at this level with the qualifying campaign for the 2011 European Championship approaching fast.

Ipswich star Garvan, who has six championship goals so far this season, will line out tonight in a three-man midfield at Turner’s Cross against an experienced German side and Givens is hoping for a competitive friendly so as to prepare his charges for the March 31 date with Turkey, also set to be played at Turner’s Cross.

Regular captain Eddie Nolan (Preston North End) has been called up to the senior squad for tomorrow’s match against Georgia so Givens has handed the armband to Plymouth Argyle striker Alan Judge, while Aldershot’s Scott Davis arrived to the camp last night to replace Nolan.

Up front, alongside Judge will be current Irish Examiner Junior Sports Star Sean Scannell (Crystal Palace) and Cillian Sheridan, the Celtic striker currently on loan to Motherwell, winning his first U21 cap. Full-back Brendan Moloney (Nottingham Forest) and centre-back Shane Lowry (Aston Villa) will also be playing their first games for Ireland at this level.

One blow for Givens however has been the withdrawal of Dutch-born Barry Maguire.

“He’s not ready to make his mind up yet,” said Givens of the Utrecht defender. “I thought he could be involved with us and still go back. But because he’s playing competitively with Holland, he can only switch once. So if he came to play with us, even though it’s a friendly, he could not go back. He’s got a bit more time, he’s a 1989 birthday, so he has another year or so to make his mind up.”

Germany will use tonight’s game as preparation for the finals of the UEFA U21 Championship. They are one of eight teams who have qualified for the finals to be held in Sweden in June.

But Garvan is keenly aware that assisting with the next campaign as long as he is eligible will help his own international prospects no end.

“This is my last season, I just nicked in, I’m one of those jammy January kids,” he laughs. “But we have another campaign to get going with. Playing Germany will help this new group of players get used to each other. It’ll be good to see how the new guys get on and how we all get on against a really good German side. It’ll be a good test for us.”

One of 40 to be called up to Giovanni Trapattoni’s pre-summer training camp in the Algarve last year, Garvan, who is aiming for “double figures” at club level, can legitimately believe he is on the Italian’s radar.

“It was a good experience. It was one of the manager’s first camps. It was just good to be involved but obviously I want to be more involved with the seniors. To do that I need to do well (tonight) obviously.

“Every player wants to be involved with the senior squad but I can’t do anything about it now. When you’re with the U21s, you just want to do well for your country. It doesn’t matter what group you’re with, you just give your best.”

Is it be mischievous to suggest maybe he is too creative for Trap’s liking?

“No comment on that one, obviously,” he laughs. “I think the team has done really well. They’ve got seven points from nine. He has got good results and hopefully that will continue.”

Picking up a gong on Sunday night adds to what has been a good season for the Drumcondra lad personally, even if that hasn’t exactly translated to the fortunes of mid-table Ipswich.

“Yeah, it was a good start to the week,” he admits. “It was just nice to be nominated, first and foremost. I’ve been getting myself back into the Irish setup for the last year so it was a great day for me and my family.

“I’m doing okay (for Ipswich). Obviously I’m a bit disappointed because we lost at the weekend against a team around us (3-0 at Swansea). We were pushing for the play-offs so that’s kind of halted us a bit. We need to get back on track come Saturday because we have a couple of important home games.”

IRELAND U21: S Redmond (Eastwood Town); B Moloney (Nottingham Forest), M Spillane (Luton Town), S Lowry (Aston Villa), M Liddle (Carlisle United); S Gleeson (Wolverhampton Wanderers), J McCarthy (Hamilton Academicals), O Garvan (Ipswich Town); A Judge (capt, Plymouth Argyle), C Sheridan (Motherwell), S Scannell (Crystal Palace).

Tickets are still available through Ticketmaster and at the gate and are priced at €15 for adults and €5 for children under the age of 16.