Doherty gets defensive chance

Gary Doherty will tomorrow night get the chance to stake his claim as a defender for the Republic of Ireland.

The versatile Tottenham player, usually a striker at international level, has never started a game at the back for his country, but will get that opportunity against the Czech Republic at Lansdowne Road.

Doherty, aged 24 and with 22 caps to his name, has finally settled into being a central defender for his club, and earlier this month he was rewarded with a new four-year contract at White Hart Lane.

Now, with the likes of Gary Breen, Richard Dunne, John O’Shea and Andy O’Brien ruled out, Doherty has the chance to show Ireland boss Brian Kerr he should be taken seriously as a defender.

“This is a massive game for me and it’s up to me to show what I can do,” said Doherty.

“It is something I’m looking forward to. Gary Breen, Richard Dunne, John O’Shea and Andy O’Brien are all probably ahead of me in the pecking order so this is a chance for me to show what I can do and to raise my credentials.

“Andy O’Brien came in and did well in the last friendly against Brazil and now I hope that I can make a good claim to play. I think that’s what these friendlies are for.

“There are players here who Brian wants to look at and I’m one of them. I want to do the business against the Czechs.

“I have a lot to thank David Pleat for because he put a lot of faith in me and has given me a chance in one position. It has been difficult trying to juggle two positions because they are totally different.

“It’s not like playing at right-back and then switching to centre-back – the mindset is totally different.”

The Czechs are undefeated in their last 20 internationals dating back to November 2001 and the visitors should be almost at full-strength as they prepare for Euro 2004, a marked contrast to Ireland.

Kerr gave FA Cup leave to Manchester United’s O’Shea plus Breen and Jason McAteer of Sunderland.

Subsequently Dunne, Steve Finnan, Stephen McPhail, O’Brien, Nicky Colgan and David Connolly withdrew.

Tottenham’s Stephen Kelly, with one Premiership start behind him, Nottingham Forest’s John Thompson and Celtic’s Liam Miller were called up but it leaves Kerr with only two recognised centre-halves – Kenny Cunningham and Doherty.

Kerr said he would be “mindful that it is a busy time for clubs” so multiple substitutions, which will be reduced to a maximum of six in July, can be expected to ensure players are not over-worked.

Among those making senior debuts should be Sheffield United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny and Miller, who has signed a pre-contract to join Manchester United this summer.

The midfielder was left out of the original squad because of injury but after two appearances for Celtic he has been called up by Kerr and could get his first taste of international action in the second half.

Ireland earned a creditable 0-0 draw against Brazil last month and it would be a significant scalp for Kerr’s side if they could succeed where France and Holland have failed by beating the Czech Republic.