Trapattoni expected to remain in hospital until weekend

IT may have been a chastening evening on the pitch but the news was better away from it with confirmation that Giovanni Trapattoni will be back on his feet in good time for the opening Euro 2010 qualifier in Yerevan.

Ireland take on Armenia in their opening qualifier on September 3, just over three weeks from now, by which time the manager will have fully recovered from yesterday’s bout of surgery.

“It was a very short procedure and Giovanni gave the team to Marco shortly afterwards,” said team doctor Alan Byrne last night. “He would be expected to remain in hospital over the weekend. There is no date set for his discharge.”