Ireland on the lookout for more friendly fire

IT’S a measure of the growing strength in depth of Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad that, even with Kevin Doyle becoming the latest player to enter an already crowded sick-bay, the team which takes the field against Croatia at the Aviva Stadium tonight (7.45pm) can by no means be regarded as second-string.

Indeed, the news yesterday that Doyle had returned to Wolves was significant, not so much in terms of weakening home chances in this evening’s friendly against the side ranked ninth in the world, but because it raises concerns about the striker’s availability for the European Championship qualifiers against Slovakia and Russia next month.

The knee ligament injury has troubled Doyle since he sustained it in the home game against Macedonia last March, a setback which effectively ended any meaningful contribution he could make for club and country for the remainder of the season.