A battler in the Domenech mould France's

When France manager Raymond Domenech is asked which current player reminds him most of himself in his playing days, he scratches his head and gives the question a lot of thought. It is something of a surprise when he settles on Gael Givet, the young Monaco defender.

"Like Givet I was a fighter, not afraid to get stuck in," said the 52-year-old, who had a reputation as a no-nonsense and, at times, brutal defender during his days with Lyon and France.

"What I admire most about Gael is the way he never gives up; even when his team are losing 4-0 he carries on battling."

At a time when France's desire and fighting qualities are being questioned, Domenech is hoping that Givet will give Les Bleus some extra punch against the Irish tonight.

"I'd like to have more players like Gael," he admitted. "If my team showed that sort of determination all over the pitch, we'd be very difficult to stop."

Givet's thoughts on his manager are likely to be equally positive. Before Domenech's appointment in July, the defender, who celebrates his 23rd birthday today, had barely even been mentioned as a potential international.

He admitted to being shocked when he heard he had been called up for the friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina in August.

"It was announced on the television," Givet recalled. "I was so surprised I waited until the programme was repeated just so I could be sure I hadn't misunderstood."

Born in Arles, in the south of France, Givet grew up in the same neighbourhood as Liverpool striker Djibril Cissé. The pair played in the same teams throughout their youth, starting with their local club and progressing through the junior France teams together. It was a nice touch, therefore, when Givet and Cissé both came off the bench to play the second half against Bosnia. "I think there would have been a few people smiling back in Arles at that moment," Givet said.

The Monaco stopper admits Cissé has helped him integrate into the France set-up.

"It's great to have a familiar face in the dressing-room," he said. "Djibril hasn't changed a bit and we've always got on well. We were the ones playing the practical jokes back then and it's the same today."

With Cissé helping Givet to relax, the defender has produced some assured performances for Les Bleus. After impressing for 45 minutes on the left of a three-man defence against Bosnia, he was handed his first start in the same role for France's opening World Cup qualifier against Israel. Givet used his speed, strength and aggression to shackle the Israel attack in a disappointing goalless draw, and L'Equipe and France Football magazine were unanimous in naming the youngster as France's star performer.

Domenech switched to a 4-4-2 against the Faroe Islands, but Givet - whose ability to adapt to any position in a back four or a back three is another plus - kept his place alongside his Monaco team-mate Sebastien Squillaci in the centre. Aside from one worrying moment when the ball inadvertently struck his hand inside the penalty area, Givet again defended stoutly and France sealed a 2-0 win.

It is a measure of the confidence Domenech has in Givet and Squillaci, who have a combined total of six caps, that the coach is likely to keep them together in the centre of defence against Ireland, while William Gallas and Mikael Silvestre, who have 57 caps between them, will fill the full-back positions.

According to the Monaco manager, Didier Deschamps, Givet, who signed onto the club's books aged 14, has benefited greatly from the experience he gained in last season's run to the Champions League final.

"Givet has always had special fighting qualities," Deschamps said. "He'll put his head where others wouldn't dare put their feet and that's a part of his game I don't want to take away. But in the last year he has become a more rounded player. Now he plays with composure as well as aggression."

Monaco were nonetheless knocked off top spot in Ligue 1 last weekend after conceding four goals in the last 25 minutes against Nice, and Deschamps added a word of caution for his young defenders. "They've improved a lot, but playing for France is a step up even from the Champions League. It takes every player a little time to adapt to international football."

Ireland will be seeking to take advantage of any defensive lapses tonight.