Opportunity knocks for young blood to impress Trapattoni

LEST we forget, there’s a Carling Nations Cup game between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland at the Aviva Stadium tonight.

While making no bones about the fact that his main aim is to protect his assets for the away qualifier against Macedonia on June 4, GiovanniTrapattoni was insistent that this week still offers him a valuable chance to give fringe and youth players a chance to stake a claim.

Injuries, late arrivals and involvement in Champions League final and Championship Play-Off games have all limited his hand this week to the extent that, while his habit is to name a side 24 hours before kick-off, he was obliged yesterday to include a couple of either/ors in his starting line-up for tonight’s game.