Winger Brady happy to be in Sligo rather than Belgrade
The Manchester United winger will be at the Showgrounds tonight as Ireland’s main attacking threat in their vital U21 qualifier against Turkey.
Giovanni Trapattoni looked to promote the rookie for tomorrow’s senior friendly in Belgrade but the competitive underage tie took precedence.
Victory tonight would guarantee Ireland second spot in their qualifying group, with two qualifiers still to play.
“It was a great boost to hear the manager [Trapattoni] wanted me to go because making my senior debut is a major aim of mine,” Brady said.
“This U21 game is important though and it took something like this to keep me out of the seniors. We’ve worked hard as a group over the past year to get to this point and I want to be around for it. I know I’m ready for that step-up. Whenever the time is right and he [Trap] wants me, I’ll be delighted to go with them.”
Following a successful loan at Hull City last season, the Dubliner got his first taste of first-team action at Manchester United on their pre-season tour in South Africa last month.
He reckons there’s a chance of a breakthrough at Old Trafford this season which kicks off at Everton next Monday.
“They played me at left-back in pre-season and there’s no real cover for Patrice Evra in that position,” explained Brady.
“I think I’m first in line if anything happens to him unless they sign someone in the meantime. I’m open to staying around at United this season because I’d be delighted to do a job for the first-team.”
Table-toppers Italy are on course to win the pool but second place could be sufficient for Ireland to join them in the play-offs for next year’s Euro finals in Israel.
Only the four best runners-up across the 10 groups clinch a play-off berth, something manager Noel King reckons is attainable with seven points from the nine remaining on offer.
King will be missing midfield powerhouse Jeff Hendrick after he sustained a wrist injury playing for Derby County on Saturday. Gavin Gunning (Dundee United), Sean Murray (Watford) and Rhys Murphy (SC Telstar) and Aaron Doran (Inverness CT) are also out while Ipswich Town’s Ronan Murray has been called up.
Sean Scannell is set to play his first competitive game under King in attack.
IRELAND (probable): I McLoughlin (MK Dons); J Egan (Sunderland), S Duffy (Everton), N Canavan (Scunthorpe United), G Cunningham (Bristol City) — capt; A Barton (Coventry City), R Towell (Unattached), E O’Kane (Torquay United); R Brady (Manchester United), S Scannell (Huddersfield Town), A White (Leeds United).
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