Keane exit opens door for Folan

INTERNATIONAL SOCCER:HULL CITY striker Caleb Folan is in line to make his first start for the Republic of Ireland against Poland on Wednesday after Robbie Keane was forced to withdraw from the squad due to a shoulder injury picked up in Liverpool's 2-0 win over Bolton on Saturday.

Celtic's Aiden McGeady is also out, having failed to shake off the calf strain that has kept him out of several club games recently.

In their place, Reading striker Noel Hunt has received his first senior international call-up, and like Shay Given, Folan and Paul McShane, all of whom missed training yesterday, the 25-year-old former Shamrock Rovers player is expected to take part in this morning's session at Malahide.

At least one more player may also be drafted in, although to judge by Giovanni Trapattoni's comments at a decidedly lively press conference yesterday, there is unlikely to be any late call-up for Andy Reid, Joey O'Brien or Rory Delap.

The omission of the former two when the squad was named last week has caused some surprise, but the Italian stoutly defended his selection last night and suggested that, while the pair may well be required at some date, he prefers for the moment to weigh up his other options.

With regard to the Stoke City midfielder, on the other hand, he said it would be "humiliating" to hand a player a place in any national team because his throw-ins were long.

"Against Manchester United his first caused the goalkeeper problems, but over 90 minutes there is more to football."

Of the three, Reid's plight has, of course, received the lion's share of attention over the course of Trapattoni's reign, but the coach said that he had made the situation entirely clear to the midfielder over recent times.

"I spoke to him before the last game and you all know that in Germany I discussed with him the situation at night," he said.

"It was okay that the players were in the pub, for me that's not a problem because for the players it is important and I said to him to continue (with Ireland) because in the future he might play.

"At the moment, though, I don't want to change the system. So I don't forget Andy Reid like I don't forget Lee Carsley. It's just too early, we need more than a year to decide the squad. I have 35 years in international football and I have learned that much."

The former Italy boss said that the Dubliner's demeanour when left on the sidelines has been a factor in his decision to leave him out but, he insisted again, the primary reason for the 26-year-old's exclusion is the fact that his particular talents do not fit in with the way the team is supposed to play.

"He values himself a lot and when he doesn't play he gets sad, I know. I think it's better that when we need him to come in that it's possible he'll play. To win we need a smile and enthusiasm, and there are other players who still smile when they don't play.

"I wish to help him but I don't do that if he comes when I want to see Folan again or (Darron) Gibson or (Keith) Andrews. I have a system and so far it has worked. Reid plays the position at Sunderland that Ireland plays at Manchester City but, at the moment, our system does not include this position.

"Sure, I know that it's possible in the next game we will lose and we will decide to try the other tactics, but for now we cannot try other things because the three points are important.

"Not only that but at the moment I want to see other players in this game. Only when the young players play will they become stronger."

That desire to see youth get its chance to develop and shine doesn't seem to extend just now to O'Brien, who said in a newspaper interview last month that he may consider joining Stephen Ireland in voluntary exile if he does not get more of a look in from the new manager.

"I read what he said, it's not a problem, I wish to hear the players' opinions," said the Italian.