Danes to provide genuine test

A little short of a year after he ended the speculation surrounding his international future by opting for the Republic of Ireland, Clinton Morrison will get his chance to start a senior game for the first time this evening at Lansdowne Road against what looks likely to be a strong Danish side.

Morrison has earned four caps coming from the bench and scored one goal, against Croatia on his debut, along the way. Now, with Damien Duff required to balance the midfield by reverting to the left flank, the 22-year-old Londoner has been handed the opportunity to enhance his reputation.

"I think it's time that he started a game," McCarthy said yesterday. "He's made a couple of cameo appearances for us and done very well, but this is a good time for him to come in from the start."

The Ireland manager said he has been consistently impressed, not only by the young striker's developing game - "He brings something different to the side, he has pace, runs into the channels, is strong and he's bigger than either Damien or Robbie, which is a good thing when we don't have Quinny." - but also by his attitude: "He's fitted in very well with everybody, but then you couldn't meet a nicer lad."

And while the game represents a chance for Morrison to impress, it is not, McCarthy insisted, a test.

"He's playing because of the way he has played for his club, and even if he doesn't do well it's not going to be the end of him or anything daft like that."

Morrison will be partnered in attack by Robbie Keane, one of three starters this evening who have been struggling to get their game going at club level. McCarthy emphasised that the Dubliner's record for the Republic is such that the Leeds striker has nothing left to prove as far as he is concerned.

Much the same has been said about Mark Kinsella and Gary Kelly, both of whom will also appreciate the break from reserve team football.

Kinsella's return to central midfield, where he will play alongside Matt Holland, seemed the obvious move, said McCarthy.

"They were outstanding in Estonia on a very poor pitch, so I thought I'd give them another chance together in similar circumstances," laughed the manager.

That means, however, that Colin Healy must settle for a place on the bench, although McCarthy mentioned that the young Corkman has "every chance of getting a game" this evening.

So, too, one suspects, does Steven Reid, who is also omitted despite an impressive display against the Russians. The exact number of replacements to be allowed hadn't been agreed with the Danes by yesterday afternoon, but even if McCarthy does not, as anticipated, get permission to throw on as many as he wants, it is hard to believe he will not have another look at the two midfielders.

Goalkeeper Dean Kiely's quiet patience is rewarded with a rare start. His performance is unlikely to have any great effect on the bigger picture, though, with the Charlton player already guaranteed his place on the plane to Japan but firmly behind Shay Given in the pecking order.

Elsewhere, Steve Staunton, who will captain the side, is partnered by Kenny Cunningham in the heart of the defence. McCarthy emphasised that he has yet to settle on a first choice pairing in this department.

Kelly is chosen ahead of Steve Finnan, but again both are almost certain to travel to Japan even if Steve Carr does return in time, as McCarthy suggested yesterday that, having decided that Millwall's Robbie Ryan is not ready to make the step up to international football, he will use one of the three as cover for Ian Harte during the championships.

Morten Olsen, meanwhile, looks set to field a strong attacking side despite missing six of his established players. Having recently returned from a long lay-off, Chelsea's left-sided winger Jesper Gronkjaer goes straight back into a three-man attack that will be led by Ebbe Sand, the Schalke 04 striker who finished last season as the Bundesliga's leading scorer with 22 goals.

Jon Dahl Tommasson, the former Newcastle United player who has scored 17 goals for Feyenoord this season, will play behind the front men in an attacking midfield role. His involvement is subject to a slight injury doubt, but it is likely that, having started, he will be replaced before the 90 minutes are up.

Olsen, meanwhile, intends to have a look at Schalke's recent signing for next season, the promising Christian Poulsen, alongside the much more experienced Allan Nielsen in the more defensive midfield roles.

After a desperately disappointing European finals in 2000, the Danes came strongly through their World Cup qualification campaign, though, and with Olsen insisting that he is taking the game seriously it might just prove to be a decent encounter.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Kiely (Charlton Ath); G Kelly (Leeds Utd), Cunningham (Wimbledon), Staunton (Aston Villa), Harte (Leeds Utd); McAteer (Sunderland), Kinsella (Charlton Athletic), Holland (Ipswich Town), Duff (Blackburn Rovers); Robbie Keane (Leeds Utd), Morrison (Crystal Palace).

DENMARK: Sorensen (Sunderland); Rytter (Vfl Wolfsborg), Laursen (Milan), Henriksen (Panathinaikos), Heintze (PSV Eindhoven); Nielsen (Watford), Tomasson (Feyenoord), Poulsen (FC Copenhagen); Rommedahl (PSV Eindhoven), Sand (Schalke 04), Gronkjaer (Chelsea).