Four withdraw from Ireland squad

Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr today lost four players from his squad to face Turkey in Tuesday night’s friendly at Lansdowne Road.

Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given (neck and knee), Manchester United defender John O’Shea, Birmingham defender Kenny Cunningham (groin) and Everton midfielder Lee Carsley (knee) have all returned to their clubs for treatment after suffering knocks in yesterday’s Euro 2004 Group 10 qualifier at home to Russia.

Kerr, who has resisted the temptation to call up any replacements or to promote anyone from the Under-21 squad, is optimistic that none of the injuries to the quartet are too serious.

The manager said: “John O’Shea has some soreness in his tendon behind the knee but our medical staff don’t think its too serious.

“It was just as well to send him home to check it out and he’ll be having a scan back in Manchester.

“Shay hurt his neck and also aggravated a knee injury but hopefully he isn’t too bad.

“Kenny had an old groin injury which felt a bit sore, but we were going to rest him anyway as he is suspended for our final qualifier in Switzerland next month, and Lee has gone back too.

“I am happy enough with the strength of the squad we have at the moment.

“We started with 24 and as long as it doesn’t go down below 18 or 19 we are okay. If we need one or two for specific positions we’ll get them in.”

Rotherham striker Alan Lee took a knock on his knee during training today and will be assessed in the morning.

The point against Russia means Ireland must win in Switzerland to guarantee at least a play-off place, although a draw might yet be good enough, and Kerr revealed the “huge respect” he had for his players after seeing their reaction to yesterday’s result.

He continued: “The sense of disappointment among the players made me feel sorry for them.

“I have huge respect for them because of the level of their disappointment when we drew in Albania and again yesterday.

“I don’t those draws were too bad results, I think a lot of people under-estimated Russia although we didn’t, we had no right to.

“The players were hugely disappointed and that shows the high standards they set themselves. I hope they are realistic standards, but it is a measure of their desire to get to the finals.

“The permutations are that if we win the game in Switzerland then at worst we’ll be in the play-offs. We’ve taken on some tough challenges since we started and we’ll be capable of that one.

“There are various permutations which could leave us winning the group if we win the last game or even a draw could see us into the play-offs.

“As regards the match against Russia we didn’t fire on all cylinders. We didn’t pass the ball as crisply as well as we normally do, but the players gave everything they had and kept going until the end of the match.”

The loss of the injured players means there will be at least four changes on Tuesday, although Kerr is likely to make at least two or three other alterations to his line-up.

The main concern is to find a replacement for Cunningham to partner Gary Breen at the heart of the defence, with Manchester City’s Richard Dunne and Newcastle’s Andy O’Brien the two contenders.

West Brom goalkeeper Joe Murphy will win his cap, and there might be a run out for Leeds’ Stephen McPhail – the two squad members not to have featured yet under Kerr since he took charge at the start of the year.

“John O’Shea’s injury complicates the fact we need a new partner for Gary against Turkey,” said Kerr.

“We have Richard and Andy, both of whom are good centre halves. Richard has played in many major matches and done exceptionally well when you consider the quality of opposition he has played against, none more so than Portugal and Holland.

“Andy has been playing regularly in the first team for Newcastle and did well in the last game he played for us so we have good options there.

“Nicky Colgan will start in Shay’s absence and I’ve told Joe Murphy he will win his first cap. We’ll look for an opportunity so Stephen can play as well.

“It’s a big game for us, one we’ll take seriously as we’ve taken all our friendlies seriously. We’ve got to re-group and we’d like to win it.”