EMMET MALONEtalks to Robbie Brady, the Manchester United starlet who looks like being fast-tracked into the senior ranks for Ireland

WITH WHAT looked a decent first senior international training session under his belt in sunny south London yesterday, Robbie Brady’s brief encounter with the Irish media was interrupted so that Giovanni Trapattoni could give some friendly advice on dealing with the press.

The Italian chatted amiably to Manchester United player for a few moments as he made his way off the pitch and into the stand at Kingsmeadow, the ground shared by AFC Wimbledon and Kingstonian. Brady’s expression suggested he had not entirely followed the instructions but the fixed smile certainly suggested an eagerness to please.

In the wake of Friday’s game in Astana where James McClean’s post-match tweet gave the Ireland manager another headache he could have done without, the new arrival’s desire to ingratiate himself is likely to be appreciated all the more.

Despite being just 20 and with barely a season of senior club football to his name, Trapattoni seemed genuinely excited about Brady yesterday, with the manager suggesting the player can, like James McCarthy, see the right pass just that little bit faster than most of his contemporaries, go past opponents when the opportunity presents itself and score the odd goal.

“I got a few goals for the under-21s and I think that’s what put my name about,” says Brady in relation to the last point. “Now, I’m delighted I’m here. I was getting ready for the flight to Italy (with Noel King’s squad) when they told me I’d got called up. Hopefully, come Tuesday, if I get a chance I’ll be able to show what I’m about.”

If he does then it could be the start of something very big for the Dubliner, who played his schoolboy football with St Kevin’s before heading to England to join the club he had always supported as a kid.

His potential has never been doubted but injuries, including a serious ankle one that kept him out for the best part of a season, have hindered his progress. A perceived reluctance to pull his weight on the defensive side of things also occasionally cast a doubt over his ability to make the breakthrough at a club like United.

From that point of view, Alex Ferguson’s suggestion that he could provide cover for Patrice Evra at left back must have seemed like a welcome vote of confidence and will doubtless stand to him in Trapattoni’s eyes.

“Yeah, I feel better for having played there in pre-season and hopefully it will help me defensively,” he says before adding that he does prefer to attack.

“When I spoke to him [Ferguson] early last month, he had me as cover for left back and he wanted me to stay. But they’ve got cover at left back now and I want to play as many games as I can, so maybe another loan move would be good. I’m not sure another move to Hull is an option but I’ll see what the best move for me is.”

It is, though, a case of one thing at a time for a man who was yesterday still meeting some of his fellow internationals for the very first time.

“It’s still just my first few hours but I’ve really enjoyed it. They are a good group of lads and I have been welcomed from the first moment I came in.

“I do know John O’Shea from United, Paul McShane when I was at Hull, and quite a few of the lads from being around the football scene. They have all made me feel really at home and the manager says that he had me on the radar so it has all been great.”

And with Trapattoni saying the 20-year-old is going to start against Oman it, like Brady himself, still has the potential to get a whole lot better.