Doyle itching for return

The level of pent-up frustration is perhaps gauged by his enthusiasm. Kevin Doyle, an articulate and honest speaker when facing the media, is in particularly giddy form, bouncing from one interview to the next, sporting a chipper grin throughout. Fit-again after eight weeks sidelined, he is both readied and raring for Croker.

He has endured months kicking his heels in the stands of the Madejski Stadium but he's back, rejuvenated and refreshed. As he puts it himself, there's no bigger stage than Croke Park to signal a successful return from treatment table tedium.

The Reading striker has been sidelined since tearing his hamstring against Everton in January. Bit-part roles in recent games constitute his only senior action in two months, yet the Wexford man is confident his fitness will hold true if selected for 90 minutes this weekend.

"Thankfully, it's just about right now," he says enthusiastically. "I came back a bit too early, tried to rush it and aggravated it again. We played Manchester United in the cup about three weeks ago and I really pushed myself to get back for that, stupidly I suppose. It wasn't coming right in few weeks since, only last week I felt it improve."

Steve Staunton inquired about Doyle's fitness last week, the day before naming his squad, but even then Reading manager Steve Coppell couldn't be sure. Still, having worked daily on his recuperation to no real avail, it was Coppell's suggestion to rest for three days that has stood Doyle in such good stead.

"I came on at the weekend against Portsmouth and that was the first time I felt I could sprint 100 per cent and back to my old self," Doyle says.

"It was a great feeling and nice to tell Stan that I could play and not have to go home again. I feel fresh.

"I didn't miss many games in the last few years, so maybe my body needed a bit of a break. I might be lacking a bit of match-sharpness as its been eight weeks since I started a game but with the adrenaline pumping through my body if picked, I think I'll get through 90 minutes on Saturday."

Staunton, it would appear, has no lasting concerns over the striker who trained without a hitch this week. Having missed the San Marino win, it would appear only a last minute setback will deprive the 23-year-old of partnering captain Robbie Keane in attack. Indeed, having tucked just two goals past Europe's minnows, Staunton is just as eager to see Doyle back in the ranks.

Doyle watched brief Sky Sports highlights of the drudgery served up in San Marino as, living in England, there was no live coverage of a game most broadcasters felt was a no-brainer. Even still, Doyle admits he might not have tuned in had he the chance. Looking in while laid up is not his thing.

"It's hard to say," he offers in reference to Ireland's erratic showings to date.

"I think the big games are easier to play well in, sometimes the smaller ones are taken for granted. Having beat San Marino 5-0 at home, I think we expected to win easy, but that came back to bite us. It could have been easier and would have been a catastrophe not to win."

So, how does the squad right those wrongs ahead of this particular double-header?

"Well, we have win these two games. If we don't its extremely difficult. It's difficult enough as it is. But thankfully there's a lot of freshness regarding the Croke Park factor. It's given everyone a buzz and added excitement and perhaps the boost we need to go on and try do that."

As a Wexford man and hurling fan, Doyle has seen Croke Park in all its splendour. He remembers fondly Martin Storey lifting the Liam McCarthy cup after beating Limerick in the 1996 All-Ireland final. But, when the historical significance of this weekend's occasion it is put to him, he refutes suggestions both he and his team-mates could freeze.

"The build up has been nearly two years in the making and that could play on people's minds. But lads here have played in World Cups and big club games. The experienced lads will be fine so its up to younger lads like myself to take it all in beforehand and then forget about it and get on with things."

Getting on with things . . . a lot like Doyle himself.