Kerr with work to do

Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr will tonight celebrate his 21st game in charge – but he is far from believing his team have come of age.

In many respects, Kerr is still learning the ropes and about the players he has at his disposal, particularly after a series of friendlies over the last year prior to the start of the World Cup qualifying campaign on Saturday.

That proved to be a comfortable 3-0 Lansdowne Road victory over Cyprus, with tonight’s test against Switzerland at Basle’s St Jakob Park a more stern test of their credentials and whether they have what it takes to top group four ahead of France and the Swiss.

Kerr should learn a great deal about his team, in comparison to 11 months ago when the Republic’s hopes of reaching Euro 2004 were brought to an alarming halt by a 2-0 defeat to Kobi Kuhn’s side at the same venue.

Kerr at least has Kenny Cunningham and Roy Keane to call on on this occasion but he feels he still has plenty of work to do and much to achieve.

“I won’t think we have come of age until we are completely motoring home and away, and winning games home and away,” insisted Kerr.

“Of the previous 20 games, we have had seven competitive and lost one out of that lot and along the way there have been a lot of good changes.

“We have certainly progressed since the last game here, with more competition in almost every area of the pitch, both in terms of the squad and starting line-up.

“Everybody identified the fact that Kenny missing the last game against Switzerland was a major blow to us after he had played in all the previous qualification matches. He picked up two yellow cards throughout qualifying and ended up missing the game with the Swiss after being such a key person for us.

“I definitely think Kenny being available again is an improvement on that situation, and Roy brings something different to what we have.

“But at any given time you make the best of what you have and I will expect the players tonight to play to the best of their ability.”

Kerr has already maintained Switzerland are favourites as they are the home side and they have the two wins over Ireland during Euro 2004 qualification to fall back upon.

But by no means is Kerr about to turn defensive and look to pinch nothing more than a point on the road in what is a key fixture in the group.

“We are aware of the strengths of the Swiss team, but we also have good players and we have to have a formation and platform for them to be that,” added Kerr.

“But in no way have we come to play for a draw. It does not suit either our mentality or the players we have, and it has never been the style of an Irish team over the last 20 years to chase a draw.”

That is borne out by the fact Damien Duff looks certain to play after coming through his first training session yesterday since the win over Cyprus with no after-effects to the calf injury he sustained in that game.

“I don’t know if he is 100%, but he is very likely to play, so I am not concerned about him and he is mad to go for it,” added Kerr.

“I will not know if he is still hampered by the injury until before the game, but he took full part in training yesterday, so I think he will be okay.

“There has been significant improvement. The swelling has gone down above the ankle and the discolouration has gone, so it is a lot better.”

Kerr, though, is refusing to reveal who will play left-back in favour of John O’Shea, who returned to Manchester United on Sunday with a slight tear to a lower thigh muscle, with Hearts’ Alan Maybury likely to get the nod ahead of Liverpool’s Steve Finnan.