McGeady: I wasn't fully fit for Slovakia clash

Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni is ready to gamble once again on the fitness of Aiden McGeady in Russia despite the winger admitting he is not match-fit.

The 25-year-old Spartak Moscow man, who had only a few minutes of football under his belt after two months out with ankle ligament damage, started last night’s 0-0 Euro 2012 qualifier draw with Slovakia in Dublin, and struggled to force his way into a tight game.

McGeady later revealed he was fighting for breath as he attempted to find his fitness on the pitch.

Asked if he was fully fit, he replied: “Not really, to be honest. In training, I felt okay, I felt quite sharp, but a game is totally different.

“Even in the first half, I felt quite out of breath. It’s the first competitive football I have played in almost three months and I definitely felt the effects of it.

“There were times in the game when I just felt I had given away the ball cheaply – obviously, that’s nothing to do with lack of fitness, but I wasn’t myself, I don’t think.

“I just felt I wasn’t quick off the mark, I wasn’t sharp. I was just a yard off the play.

“It’s obviously disappointing, but I would never turn down a chance to play for Ireland. The manager wanted me to play, so I answered his call.”

However, Trapattoni, who eventually replaced McGeady with Stephen Hunt after 85 minutes, was unrepentant when asked about his decision to keep the former Celtic man on the pitch.

He said: “The opponents were scared of him. I didn’t change him earlier because he was playing well.

“He said to me he was okay. He was out for two months with an injury, like [Kevin] Doyle.

“We know, you know, we all know. Doyle was the same, he was out for two moths with a knee injury. McGeady, I know this problem.

“It’s easy to say that today. When you speak about it after the game, it’s always easier. But you have to decide.

“Also in Russia, who plays, Hunt or McGeady? He [McGeady] plays in Russia and has the mentality.

“You can decide – and then tomorrow say, ’Would it not have been better to play the other?’.”

Asked further if he was happy McGeady was fit enough to start at the Luzhniki Stadium, where he plays his club football, on Tuesday evening, Trapattoni insisted he would have no qualms about selecting him, although admitted he is not yet ready to play a full game.

He said: “Sure. He is not fit for 90 minutes and I know also Doyle is not fit for 90 minutes because he was out for two months. He was injured for pre-season.”

Trapattoni’s stance with McGeady is markedly different to the one he has adopted with both Kevin Kilbane and Shane Long.

The full-back headed back to Derby earlier this week after being ruled out of both games with a back strain, while Long, having withdrawn from the starting line-up last night with a calf injury, will not be considered for the game in Moscow.

Skipper Robbie Keane and defender John O’Shea, who is one of the candidates to take over from the suspended Sean St Ledger in the heart of the Ireland rearguard, are expected to shake off back and Achilles problems respectively.

While a home draw against the Slovakians represents a setback to the Republic’s hopes of securing automatic qualification, Trapattoni remains convinced it is not necessarily fatal.

He said: “Also against Russia, it is possible to win. Every 90 minutes is different.

“If we can create the same opportunities as we did last night, we can score a goal – but we must take at least one of those opportunities.”

If Ireland are to rekindle their campaign, they will have to do so on the artificial playing surface at the Luzhniki, although Trapattoni, whose Red Bull Salzburg side also played on a plastic pitch during his reign, is unconcerned.

He said: “It’s the same for both teams.”