Experience gives McCarthy strong hand

Shay Given is ready to undertake a significant exercise in self-belief today after Mick McCarthy names the Republic of Ireland team to face Croatia in tomorrow's European championship game at Lansdowne Road.

Four goals sailed past Given at St James's Park last Sunday as Newcastle United sank to an abject 4-1 defeat to Liverpool at the start of Ruud Gullit's tenure of office at the club.

It was not, on McCarthy's admission, the ideal preparation for an even bigger assignment tomorrow but Given, mature beyond his 22 years, is confident that it will not affect his confidence.

"Kenny Dalglish's philosophy is: `Never knock yourself - lots of others will do it for you' and I agree with that," he said.

"What's gone is gone, all that matters is the future. And if I get into the team on Saturday, the Liverpool result will be the last thing on my mind.

"Kenny made me a stronger person, taught me the value of self-belief and with that kind of background, I'm not going to allow it to affect my performance."

With Alan Kelly out and the relatively inexperienced Dean Kiely providing the goalkeeping cover, it is critically important that Given performs to his full potential. And McCarthy is convinced that he will not be found wanting in that challenge.

"It would be different if he had come for a cross, dropped it and Newcastle lost 1-0," he said. "But the way I saw the game, he had no chance with any of the four goals and eventually stood between his team and an even bigger defeat.

"He is a mature, balanced lad and I have no doubt whatever that when the time for action arrives, he'll be perfectly prepared."

If Given is assured of winning his 18th cap there are at least three contentious questions awaiting answer when McCarthy goes public with his team selection ahead of schedule at noon today.

One is his choice of a partner for Kenny Cunningham in central defence, a second concerns Roy Keane's accomplice in central midfield and then there is the question of a replacement for Niall Quinn if, as expected, he goes with two players up front.

With Keith O'Neill fully operational again, there is a school of thought that he will play just in front of Robbie Keane, a theory given some credibility by the fact that this was the formation used in a practice game in midweek.

Yet, when asked if Quinn's defection had altered his game plan, McCarthy answered in the negative. That would incline some towards Cascarino who, no less than the Sunderland player, has occupied the cockpit with a high degree of success over the years.

Whatever the relative merits of Cascarino and O'Neill, the certainty is that Robbie Keane will be pressed into service in the hope that his aggressive running will strip the Croatian defence of at least some of the composure shown during the recent World Cup finals.

"I think it's reasonable to assume that Croatia will get plenty of players behind the ball and in situations like that it's not the easiest of tasks to find a way through them," said McCarthy.

"But Michael Owen has proved that genuine pace is something that unsettles even the best organised defences. And Robbie Keane has that kind of asset."

The prime contenders for the job of establishing the bridgehead between midfield and attack are Mark Kinsella and Ray Houghton, one a professor of the game at international level, the other a mere learner. Houghton's recall after a 10-month absence is significant, not merely for the hands-on advice he provides but also for his proven ability to get among defenders.

Even at a stage of his career when he no longer has the legs to run the flanks, his aptitude for scoring on big occasions is a huge plus, and yet there is increasing evidence that the manager is preparing to start with Kinsella.

At 26, the Charlton Athletic player is a relatively late newcomer to the big time. But he has impressed in his three appearances to date and, importantly, he goes into the game on the back of a splendid run in the Premiership.

Among those with aspirations of joining Cunningham in the pivotal roles at the back will be Gary Breen and Ian Harte, but it will still be a surprise if the manager chooses to overlook the claims of Phil Babb after the Liverpool player's composed second-half performance against Argentina.

Jason McAteer, another Liverpool player on a comeback mission, is likely to be given the job of adding width to the attack down the right with Damien Duff undertaking a similar mission on the opposite flank.

And with Dennis Irwin and Steve Staunton almost certain to be pencilled in the full-back positions, it should add up to the strongest team McCarthy has named in more than a year.