Trapattoni admits doubts about duo

Giovanni Trapattoni has expressed serious reservations about throwing both Richard Dunne and Sean St Ledger back into the fray in Stockholm next month even if both players are fit for the crunch game against Sweden.

Dunne, plagued by hip and groin problems, has not played a game since Euro 2012 while St Ledger has been sidelined with a complicated hamstring injury since October.

But while both have expressed the hope that they will be available for the resumption of World Cup qualifying, the Ireland manager is worried about the risks involved in starting such an important game with two players who have been out of action for prolonged periods of time.