Tardelli’s Duff guff adds to confusion

After Sunday’s crossfire hurricane of a press conference with Giovanni Trapattoni in the Gannon Park clubhouse, Marco Tardelli approached the media pitchside in Malahide yesterday with a big smile on his face. “No confusion,” he promised, “no confusion.”

Yet barely had the assistant manager finished his update than the airwaves were alive with talk about a possible comeback for Damien Duff, a red herring yarn which was really only the product of some wishful thinking aloud on the part of Tardelli.

Yes, the Italian said that he’d asked Richard Dunne to have a word with Duff and, yes, he said he sees the Fulham man every other day because they are neighbours in London but, before anyone else gets too excited about the prospect of Duff executing a U-turn which would be almost as sensational as one of his body swerves, it might be worth noting Tardelli used the word “hope” more than eight times in the course of his remarks about the veteran winger.

The reality is that Duff has made it clear that there will be no going back on his decision to retire and Tardelli, for all his good-humoured wishing and hoping, knows that to be the case.

Hence, his rather more direct and revealing response when asked at one point yesterday if it was in any way realistic to think the player might reverse his decision. “No,” said Tardelli. “No, but I hope.”

Of much more immediate but less headline-hogging significance in yesterday’s update was Tardelli’s unambiguous declaration that Ireland will play 4-4-2 in World Cup qualifier in Kazakhstan in Astana on Friday, though it doesn’t look like that will automatically guarantee a starting spot on the wing for James McClean.

Asked if the Sunderland man was a natural successor to Duff, Tardelli replied: “Maybe, but now he is very young. Maybe in the future it is possible, as he is a very good player. Damien Duff was also very strong tactically and I think McClean must understand some things again but it’s possible as he is very strong physically.”

Tardelli also pointed out that both Simon Cox and Shane Long can play as wide men, so it looks like one of those will get the nod on Friday, with Aiden McGeady on the opposite flank. Up front, Robbie Keane is once again a certain starter, with Kevin Doyle and Jon Walters competing to partner Ireland’s record goalscorer and captain.

Tardelli dropped a strong hint Wigan’s James McCarthy will make his first competitive start for his country, stating: “I think James McCarthy now, he plays like an old player, an experienced player. I saw him many, many times. I think he can play with Glenn in midfield.’’

Aston Villa, meanwhile, have been forced into an embarrassing climbdown over allegations they made about the treatment Dunne received for a groin injury he sustained while on duty for Ireland at Euro 2012.

The 32-year-old defender returned from the campaign in Poland with a problem which required surgery, ruling him out of the start of Villa’s Premier League season and the Kazakhstan game.

Last month, Villa charged that Dunne’s groin injury “was not dealt with” during the Euros, an allegation which infuriated the FAI and its medical staff. Now, following strong representations from the association, the club have issued a retraction and apology.

In a statement released yesterday, Villa said: “In a press release dated August 1, 2012, Aston Villa Football Club made a number of assertions and comments about the medical treatment received by Richard Dunne during his service with the Ireland team during the European Championships. We wish to acknowledge that Richard Dunne received the highest standard of medical care before and during the Championships and apologise to those involved in providing his treatment if any other impression was erroneously given.”