Fahey’s fitness boost for Euros

Birmingham City boss Chris Hughton insists midfielder Keith Fahey’s groin injury will not prevent him from making the Euro 2012 squad.

Fahey will miss the weekend’s game with Brighton and has struggled on and off with the injury since the start of the season, but Hughton expects him to be ready for the play-offs and sees no reason why the Dubliner will not be on the plane to Poland.

“I would be very surprised if he did [miss the Euros],” said the City boss. “The problem we have had with Keith is very much a management one. We have a season to complete and the problem that has really arose could be because of the volume of games so come the end of the season and come a recovery period I would see him being absolutely fine for the summer.”

Goalkeeper Colin Doyle who was capped by Steve Staunton gets the rare opportunity to play in a league game as Boaz Myhill is injured. The Corkman has done well in FA Cup and Europa Cup games and Hughton is confident he will make a worthy deputy.

“Any appearance for Doyler is an appearance he would always want,” explained the Blues boss. “Goalkeepers form relationships — they work with each other every single day. For as much as he wants to play he would not want it in the circumstances as Boaz is a good friend of his.

“We are fortunate enough to have three very good goalkeepers and I have full confidence in Doyler because what he has already showed us this season.”

Meanwhile former Ireland international Mark Kennedy has confirmed he will retire at the end of the season to join the coaching staff at his current club Ipswich Town.

The former Millwall, Liverpool, Manchester City, Wimbledon, Wolves, Crystal Palace and Cardiff player hasn’t played for the Tractor Boys since a 4-0 defeat at Burnley in November.

The Dubliner says he made his decision after speaking with Ipswich boss Paul Jewell.

“We’ve had numerous chats about where I wanted to go and what the manager’s views were,’’ he said.

“I’m 36 in May so it’s not as if I have 10 years left in me or anything like that. It’s something I want to do and I’m very grateful to the manager for giving me an opportunity.”

Capped 34 times by Ireland, scoring four goals, Kennedy, who has already made a start in his new role, didn’t think about becoming a coach until the latter stages of his career.

“Coaching didn’t really come into my mind until the last two years,” he said. “I spoke quite recently to a previous manager I worked with and I asked him if he had always intended to be a coach but he said it had just happened and the same thing has happened me.

“There was always a possibility that this would be my last year as a player and after conversations with the manager it got to the stage that we were both happy.

“The manager decided — and I’m really grateful to him for this — that it would probably be easier if I started now rather than wait and come in at the start of next season.”