Gibson faces late fitness test

EUROPEAN UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIER: DON GIVENS will wait on the results of a Darron Gibson fitness test today before naming his side for this evening's European Championship qualifier at Terryland Park (kick-off 7.30).

The Wolves midfielder picked up a slight knock in training yesterday and rather than run the risk of a run-in with Mick McCarthy, Givens says he will leave the player on the sidelines if he is not reckoned to be 100 per cent fit.

"Darron is 50-50 at the moment and we're going to wait for a fitness test before deciding whether he will play or not," said Givens. "Shane Supple will start in goal. It will be Shane's first under-21 cap and it is a good opportunity for him."

Givens also suggested he will give debuts at this level to strikers Coventry City's Leon Best and Seán Scannell of Crystal Palace.

"We're looking for a good performance," he said. "Qualification looks to be beyond us at this stage, but this is a good chance to see some of the younger players. We also have new lads in the squad (Best and Scannell) and I'd hope to see them feature at some stage."

Although Givens's men are indeed out of serious contention for a place in the next phase of the competition, they will be looking to put a look of respectability on their placing in the qualifying group table by beating their opponents by two or more goals tonight, a result that would move the Irish up to third with two away matches left to play.

Predictably, the group has been dominated by England, who have all but clinched their place in the knockout stages, and Portugal, who need a strong finish to their campaign if they are to join them.

The Irish, meanwhile, have struggled to make an impact, primarily due to a lack of goals with just one - John Joe O'Toole's against Bulgaria at home back in November - to show from five outings in the competition.

There have been more rewarding efforts in friendlies this season, though, with a 2-2 draw in Germany (Stephen Gleeson scored twice) and a 3-2 win in Sweden and Givens will be hoping to see some of that form around the opposition goalmouth this evening from a slightly injury-hit but still strong-looking squad that still includes Sunderland's Anthony Stokes, Andy Keogh of Wolves and Best, who has been a regular scorer in the Championship for Coventry this season.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND UNDER-21 SQUAD(revised): Shane Supple (Ipswich Town), Stephen Henderson (Bristol City), Eddie Nolan (Blackburn Rovers), Joe O'Cearuill (St Patrick's Athletic), Darren Dennehy (Everton), Conor Powell (Bohemians), Darren O'Dea (Celtic), Stephen Gleeson (Wolves), Stephen Quinn (Sheffield United), Darron Gibson (Wolves), Seamus Coleman (Sligo Rovers), John-Paul Kelly (Bohemians), Sean Scannell (Crystal Palace), Billy Clarke (Ipswich Town), Anthony Stokes (Sunderland), Leon Best (Coventry City), Andy Keogh (Wolves), John-Joe O'Toole (Watford).