Doc is back and primed to help the cause

Wednesday morning in Malahide and Richard Dunne is assisted off the training pitch having clashed heads with a team-mate. Steve Staunton's heart skips a beat but thankfully neither player is seriously injured.

"They're both big lads, you could probably hear the ricochet a couple of miles away," quips goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly who stresses both are fine. Gary Doherty shifts an ankle knock in the challenge. As if never away, the Doc is back.

Last seen in an Irish jersey ten months ago when thrown on late against Switzerland during Brian Kerr's final game, the Norwich defender is finally back in the frame under the new manager.

Overlooked for all of Staunton's three games to-date, Doherty must have felt his days as an Irish international were over and done with. Not so, he stresses.

"I'm over the moon, absolutely over the moon," he says of his return. "It was tough because obviously you want to be playing for your country. It was a case of putting the head down, working hard for Norwich and hoping the call would come. But you just never give up hope.

"I knew if I could start the season well for Norwich then maybe I could force my way back into the squad and thankfully that's the case."

Doherty has indeed started the season with a bang. He's played in all six of Norwich's games this season and his assured defensive performances have assisted the club in their assent to second in the Championship table.

"When you're not in the Ireland squad you must work harder and play harder," he satys of the challenge he faced . "I've started the season quite well and thankfully I have my place back.

"Of course it's going to be tough to break into the team, but it's up to me to work hard when I'm over here and hopefully I can put a bit of pressure on the lads."

With 34 caps under his belt - 20 as substitute - Doherty is more than familiar with the set-up. A different manager, some fresh faces and perhaps a touch more relaxed around camp but still more or less the same Ireland.

He appreciates too that his role is unlikely to differ wildly from Kerr's days. A familiar script so - ten minutes to go, chasing a game, stick the big fella up front. Rarely attractive, and only occasionally effective, but a weapon nonetheless.

"Stan hasn't suggested anything to me about my position but I've been training solely as a centre-half," adds Doherty. "But I'm not stupid, I've over 30 caps now and that's predominantly because I can play centre forward late doors in a game.

"That's nothing I'm going to close the door on either as I'm very proud of my caps and obviously I want to get more. I'll adapt to whatever circumstances the manager sees fit."

Although unlikely to start against Germany, Doherty could yet still have a role to play. If it's up front and late on he'll relish the opportunity of unsettling a German defence ravaged by injury.

"We know they're a difficult side to play against but we've a few things up our sleeve that hopefully we can surprise them with."