Hendrick named in new Irish midfield

Giovanni Trapattoni is realistic about his side’s slim chances but that hasn’t stopped him sending out a youthful midfield to take on the might of Spain at Yankee Stadium at 8pm local time tonight (1am Irish time).

The Ireland boss handed Derby County’s Jeff Hendrick his first ever start at international level, his fourth cap overall, and he will partner James McCarthy in the centre of midfield with Seamus Coleman and Andy Keogh on the flanks.

“I’m sure Spain will win,” he admitted at the team hotel in Jersey City yesterday. “But it will be a good test for us.”

There are seven changes from the team that beat the Faroe Islands last Friday although six of those switches have been forced upon the manager with Simon Cox the only player to have started the last game and miss out on a start tonight.

“I think without one or two silly mistakes … we (won’t) suffer against Spain.”

He said he would be keeping one eye on the result and one on the chance to make sure the younger players can get the most of this opportunity to represent their country.

“(Spain) have the usual habit, they continue with two-touch… You have to meet them where they are strong. Also to be offensive.”

Meanwhile, Robbie Keane dismissed any prospect of him returning to the UK to see out his career, in spite of Trapattoni’s assertion that this was well within his reach.

“I have just signed a two-year contract, so it’s not something I’d be looking ahead at,” Keane said before adding later that there was an option to stay a third year at the LA Galaxy.

“Go back to who? You’re just playing for the sake of playing and making the numbers up unless you are playing for Manchester United or Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool.

“You are just playing for the sake of playing. I am very, very happy, very content where I am in this situation in my life,” he added.

Ireland starting XI v Spain: D Forde; P McShane, S St Ledger, D O’Dea, S Kelly; S Coleman, J Hendrick, J McCarthy, A Keogh; R Keane (capt), C Sammon.