Walters out, Green back
It means an early return to the squad for Leeds’ Paul Green who, having been included in Noel King’s original extended panel, had been moved to the standby list over the weekend alongside Paul McShane and Stephen Quinn.
Sunderland goalkeeper Keiren Westwood has also withdrawn to receive medical treatment during the international window and will be replaced by Stephen Henderson.
Coincidentally, Henderson made his loan debut from West Ham for Bournemouth on Saturday in a game in which Irish number one David Forde was in the opposite goal for Millwall. And it was Henderson who had by far the better of the experience as Bournemouth ran out 5-2 winners.
It’s the second enforced goalkeeping change to caretaker King’s squad, with Newcastle United’s Rob Elliot having already been given his first senior call-up to replace the injured Darren Randolph. London-born Elliot said he was “so proud to get a call-up”.
Germany manager Joachim Loew might have to do without Borussia Dortmund defensive midfielder Sven Bender for Friday’s game against Ireland in Cologne. After he was substituted in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Borussia Moenchengladbach, Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp said: “Sven is black and blue. I must telephone Joachim Loew and see what he wants to do, then we’ll see what happens after that,” said the Dortmund manager.
Kevin Doyle marked his last club game before returning to the international set-up with the final goal in Wolves’ 3-0 win away to Colchester in League One on Saturday, and then headed for Dublin – where Noel King’s squad will train together for the first time later today — with praise from his manager Kenny Jackett ringing in his ears.
“It was a very good performance,” said the Wolves boss. “He showed quality and leadership up front and I am delighted for him on a personal level he has got back into the Ireland squad because it has been an ambition of his.”
With High Performance Director Rudd Dokter assisting King this week, the search for a new Ireland manager – in which the Dutchman is working with Ray Houghton on assessing and meeting the candidates – will take a temporary back seat, even though the FAI’s stated goal is still for the successor to Giovanni Trapattoni to be installed this side of Christmas and maybe even as early as the beginning of November.
Former Rangers, Scotland, Aston Villa and Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish is the latest to go public on his interest in the job, saying: “It would be great to work with Robbie Keane and Richard Dunne again, they’re legends in the game.”
McLeish went on: “I’m a visitor to Dublin. I watched one of the GAA semi-finals a while back, so while I wouldn’t have thought they’d come for me having been at Rangers, I’ve always been neutral in every single opportunity in football.”
As McLeish hinted, the Ibrox background he shares with another contender, Dick Advocaat, would be hardly seen to fit with the FAI’s desire for an appointment which will not only make footballing sense but receive widespread public approval as well.
As signalled recently in this paper, Guus Hiddink’s intention to return to football has attracted the FAI’s interest but, while maintaining that he is “keeping his options open”, the Dutchman – who would be seen to stand head and shoulders above other international contenders like Hector Cuper and Walter Zenga – is believed to favour hooking up with a country bound for the World Cup in Brazil.
Martin O’Neill and Mick McCarthy continue to command the race, with Norwich’s home defeat by Chelsea yesterday putting renewed pressure on Chris Hughton at Carrow Road – something which could yet have a bearing both on O’Neill’s options at club level and the former Irish full-back’s own availability for the international position. O’Neill has also been linked with Fulham, where under-fire manager Martin Jol earned a reprieve with victory over Stoke on Saturday.
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