In with the old, in with the new too

FRIENDLY games might be made for offering youth its chance but, in the Giovanni Trapattoni scheme of things, they are also a country for old men — especially if the veterans are badly in need of a run-out.

So it was that, at yesterday’s squad announcement for the November 17 friendly against Norway, almost as much time was spent discussing veterans like Robbie Keane and Shay Given as was devoted to the enforced absence of James McCarthy and a senior call-up for Jonathan Walters.

“I stand by Robbie,” said Trapattoni of Ireland’s captain and all-time record goalscorer. “Sure he’s not like he was 10 years ago but Robbie is Robbie. Until we find another striker who is as clever as he is we can’t change the situation. Maybe he’s 20 per cent less than two years ago, but it’s still enough, he is still very important for us. We have to play these guys until we have others who can replace them.

“It is important for Shay to start too because he doesn’t play for his club either. He needs confidence and trust from us. When he’s fit he starts – it’s important for us, important for him. I need to have the team in balance with the new and the young.

“Ten young players is the U21 team not the senior team. The result is also important for morale. So for that reason we will start with a strong team against Norway.”

Unfortunately, injury has ruled out James McCarthy, otherwise, Trapattoni said, the Wigan midfielder would have been included in the squad. And although it is understood that the player is fully committed to Ireland, the Scot has yet to play the competitive game which would actually tie him to the Republic.

“I hope McCarthy stays with us because he is important,” said the manager. “He is a player like Stephen Ireland, he has that kind of quality. I think he can play behind the striker but he can also play in midfield.

“All important teams play with one striker – and one midfield/striker or No 10. In away games that is possible but at home we must play with two strikers.”

Everton’s Seamus Coleman could well be one of the new faces on from the start against Norway, with Trapattoni maintaining that, depending on how the player develops, he could see a situation where the Irish team could accommodate both the Donegal man at right back and John O’Shea, who currently occupies that position.

“I saw him a few weeks ago in Birmingham,” said the manager. “He will play. At his club he plays wide in midfield but for us I see him as a defender. But midfield is also about attacking full backs. When we have the ball, we must attack. And John O’ Shea can also play left back or in central defence.”

We can also expect to see the return of Stephen Hunt, whose last involvement with Ireland was almost a full year ago when he was on the bench for the notorious World Cup play-off game against Paris in France.

“Hunt has great heart, he goes for 90 minutes,” said Trapattoni. “Going back to the Russia game, Hunt would have been a help because we were outnumbered in midfield. He works very hard, his experience is very important.”

And despite risking the ire of the manager by citing a need for rest and withdrawing from the squad for the Russia and Slovakia games, Blackburn’s Keith Treacy gets another chance to impress this time around.

Among those missing from this squad is Aston Villa’s Ciaran Clark, the former England youth team captain whose eligibility to play for Ireland is currently being processed.

“We await the answer from FIFA,” said Trapattoni. “He has said he wishes to come with us. I saw him last week playing in midfield. But for me that is not his position. He is a good defender, very attentive and all he needs now is experience.”

Trapattoni contrasted the eagerness of the likes of Clark and Shane Duffy to declare for the Republic with the reluctance of others to commit, such as those whose agents first demand that they be guaranteed a place in the team. “You must earn your place,” said Trapattoni. “They must be prepared to come whether they play or not.” While the credentials of Utrecht’s Barry Maguire are also being processed, there is no sign yet of any imminent breakthrough in the cases of Jamie O’Hara or Mark Noble.

Trapattoni admitted that it was not an ideal situation for a manager to have to trawl far and wide for footballers who might be eligible to play for Ireland but, given the limited pool with which he has to work, he sees no alternative.

Indeed, he revealed that he is now actively looking to tap into the Irish diaspora in the United States for potential boys in green.

And America may well be where the Irish are bound next summer, with Trapattoni suggesting that the States could be the location for an extended end of season warm-weather training camp for new and fringe players, although he also conceded that the proximity of the Carling internationals in May followed by the Euro qualifier against Macedonia in June will make finding a window of opportunity more difficult.

Meantime, Andy Keogh, Anthony Stokes and Cillian Sheridan are among those who make way in this squad for some new and returning faces but, in naming a preliminary panel of 27, the manager has done so in the knowledge that he is almost certain to lose some players to injury over the coming days.

Republic of Ireland squad (v Norway, Nov 17): Given (Man City), Westwood (Coventry), O’Shea (Man Utd), Coleman (Everton), Dunne (Villa), St Ledger (Preston), Cunningham (Leicester), Foley (Wolves), McShane (Hull), Kilbane (Hull), Kelly (Fulham), O’Dea (Ipswich), Wilson (Stoke), Gibson (Man Utd), Whelan (Stoke), Green (Derby), Lawrence (Portsmouth), Hunt (Wolves), McGeady (Spartak Moscow), Treacy (Preston), Duff (Fulham), Fahey (Birmingham), Walters (Stoke), Keane (Tottenham), Doyle (Wolves), Folan (Hull), Long (Reading).