Trap battles to retain Dunne

Giovanni Trapattoni will meet with Richard Dunne in Birmingham today as he seeks to clarify the defender’s international future.

The issue has assumed added urgency for the manager in the wake of yesterday’s surprise announcement of Damien Duff’s retirement from international football which, coming on top of Shay Given’s recent departure, robs the Irish team of valuable experience on the eve of a new World Cup campaign.

The shock news of Duff’s retirement overshadowed the happier tidings for Trapattoni that captain Robbie Keane has committed to helping his country try to qualify for the finals in Brazil in two years’ time.