Kilbane warns of Mboma threat

Kevin Kilbane knows more than most just how great a threat Cameroon striker Patrick Mboma will pose to the Republic of Ireland in their opening World Cup fixture.

Kilbane played alongside Mboma when the African striker moved to the Sunderland on loan from Italian side Parma for the last three months of the season.

Mboma did not enjoy the best of fortunes in the Premiership. He was injured shortly after arriving on Wearside, he started five games and made another four appearances as a substitute, and scored just one goal.

But Kilbane will warn his Republic team-mates not to take 31-year-old Mboma lightly when they face Cameroon in Niigata a week on Saturday, and his international record speaks for itself as he has scored 27 goals in 48 appearances.

‘‘Patrick has got talent and he will be a threat,’’ said Kilbane.

‘‘I suppose he would have looked to have scored more goals for us at Sunderland in the few months he was with us and he will be disappointed about that.

‘‘He was injured for a while which hindered him, and when he did play he missed one or two chances, and he was a little bit disappointed when he was coming off the park.

‘‘To be fair to him, we were struggling to avoid relegation and not playing well, and we didn’t create enough chances for him, so he probably expected bigger things than he actually got.

‘‘But he has got great skills; he holds the ball up well, he is strong, he likes the ball into his feet and he can create chances for other players as well.’’

Kilbane, 25, believes the Irish players are acclimatising well here in the western Pacific, although they are not getting as much sleep as they do back home.

He said: ‘‘It is what we expected, it is very hot, but we got used to it after the first couple of training sessions and the lads are feeling good.

‘‘We are not fully acclimatised yet, but we are getting there. Most lads seem to be waking early in the morning, at 6-7am, which is unusual because we are used to sleeping till 10am.’’

Kilbane, who has won 33 caps and scored three goals, is set to start in the Republic’s friendly against Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Saturday.

But one man unlikely to make it is Kenny Cunningham. The Wimbledon defender missed training today with a hamstring injury, although he is expected to be fit for the opening Group E clash against Cameroon a week later.

The Irish squad fly from Saipan to Izumo on Friday and have a warm-up match the following afternoon against Hiroshima, which will kick-off at 7.30am Irish time, in the Hamayama Sports Park Stadium.

Manager Mick McCarthy confirmed he would not risk Cunningham who is one of his first-choice centre-halves unless he was 100% fit. His place is likely to go to Gary Breen.

‘‘Kenny has a bit of a hamstring strain and it is quite tender,’’ said McCarthy.

‘‘He is having treatment on it. It was only yesterday he felt it so we have to see how it settles down, but if he’s not right I won’t risk him.

‘‘It is only a strain and there will be no doubt about him for our opening game on Saturday week. I hope it is not going to be something which nags away at him. He was our most consistent performer for a couple of years at centre-back.’’

Meanwhile, McCarthy said his players were coping well with the conditions here after their third day of training.

‘‘They are all okay,’’ he said. ‘‘They are eating and drinking plenty and they are all being monitored. I would find out if there was a concern with somebody.

‘‘They have had good sessions and worked very well and they have coped remarkably well with it. They are all very fit.’’