Staunton confident despite Doyle injury

Despite admitting that he is likely to lose a ninth player to injury Steve Staunton is predicting a win over Cyprus in Nicosia on Saturday and a kickstart to the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.

Kevin Doyle "probably won't play", according to Staunton. The Reading striker is nursing an ankle knock and has not trained at all since joining up with the squad.

His absence, however, does not seem to be affecting the manager's confidence.

"If we play at the same tempo and go at Cyprus like we did at Germany, then we should be okay," said Staunton, whose side were defeated by a deflected Lukas Podolski strike in their Group D opener in Stuttgart.

"We tried to impose a high tempo over in Germany. That's the way I want to play, but we have to keep the ball better - because we let ourselves down in the second half on that.

"The boys know that - although there was a lot of pressure on them, especially after losing 4-0 to Holland before that.

"They at least put in a performance, but now we have to put in a performance and get the result against Cyprus," added the former Liverpool player before giving his most confident declaration yet, as manager.

"We are still building. It's all a learning curve, and a lot of them have to learn quickly. But I'd expect us to win," he predicted.

Of the recent defeats to Chile, Holland and Germany, Staunton said there has been "no effect whatsoever, because the players are buzzing and looking forward to the game on Saturday."

"What I am concerned about is we've not scored for three games, although more importantly we have to start keeping a clean sheet.

"We're looking at both aspects. We're working on crossing and finishing - and on the other side of things we're looking to tighten up in defence."

Form striker Doyle will be a loss in the goalscoring department. Doyle sat out training at the Tsirion Stadium in Limassol today and will do the same tomorrow.

"Kevin will sit out tomorrow as well, and then we will see how he is," Staunton added. "We will give him every opportunity to be fit for Saturday, and if not then he will have every chance to be ready for Wednesday.

"He is improving vastly every day - but at this stage he probably won't play on Saturday."

The likelihood is that Crystal Palace forward Clinton Morrison will then get the nod to partner captain Robbie Keane in attack, but that is not the only option according to the manager.

"Clinton has played there a few times before. He will get hold of the ball; he has an eye for goal and has looked sharp in training," said Staunton. "There will be no problems if he plays, or Alan Lee. Who knows - even Damien (Duff) might be up with Robbie. We've got options."

There was a concern over midfielder Liam Miller today as he joined Doyle on the sidelines because of what Staunton described as "a strain underneath his foot."

The Sunderland player looks likely to contribute in some capacity this weekend in light of the lack of options available to Staunton in midfield.