Foley hopes Ireland mirror Wolves' success

Kevin Foley is hoping Wolves’ blistering start to the season can help the Republic of Ireland edge closer to their Euro 2012 dreams.

The 26-year-old is one of four men from the midlands club included in Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad for Friday night’s qualifier against Slovakia and the daunting trip to Russia four days later.

Wolves, managed by former Republic boss Mick McCarthy, headed into the international break sitting proudly in fifth place in the Barclays Premier League table after two wins and a draw in their opening three games.

Foley, Stephen Ward, Stephen Hunt and Kevin Doyle have each played a part in that hugely impressive return to date, and joined up with their international team-mates brimming with confidence.

However, McCarthy sent them on their way under orders to keep their feet firmly on the ground, a sentiment which will be shared by the vastly-experienced Trapattoni.

Foley said: “There’s a long way to go and the gaffer [McCarthy] is the first one to say it, ’There are 35 games left, don’t get too carried away’.

“If any of the lads get carried away, they will soon know about it from the gaffer.

“He has stated that as long as we finish higher than we did last season with more points, that’s brilliant for him and brilliant for us.

“Like they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day, so if we can stay in the league for another season and build on that, it’s good progress.

“Things are going well, but the most important thing now is for it all to go well for Ireland rather than just at your club.

“The lads need to get behind each other and hopefully we can do it on Friday.”

Wolves and Newcastle, who are level on points, have perhaps surprised a few people as they cling on to the coat-tails of a top four comprising Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea, although Foley insists there is no sense of shock within the camp.

He said: “We have had a couple of new faces come in – Roger Johnson and Jamie O’Hara – and they really have added to the squad.

“In years gone by, the gaffer has brought in more and more players, but this year, he has just settled for a bit more quality rather than quantity, and it’s paid off.”

If the new domestic season remains in its infancy, the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign is coming to a head, and Ireland’s hopes of making next summer’s finals in Poland and the Ukraine could be all but decided during the next week.

Trapattoni’s men are currently locked together with Slovakia and Russia at the top of Group B on 13 points, and two victories would out them in pole position to clinch automatic qualification.

Equally, defeat in either game could prove fatal and no one is under any illusion as to what is at stake.

Foley said: “It’s pretty much all come down to this. It’s been so tight all the way through the group stage, and what a big week ahead we have got.”

Ireland will hope to gain revenge for their only defeat of the campaign to date, by Russia at the Aviva Stadium in October, when they head for Moscow next week.

But they know even that would count for little if they do not do the job when the Slovakians head for Dublin on Friday, although a run of four wins, including a friendly success against Italy, and a draw in their last five games has simply served to increase belief.

Foley said: “I’m sure the team, as always, will be well organised and if we can get a win, it will set us up nicely for the Russia game.

“But there are a lot of ifs and buts. We have got to go out there and do what we have been doing recently, just put on a good performance and get the points.”