Kenna to join injury-hit squad

Six weeks ago when the FAI unveiled him as their new man he may well have believed he had just landed the best job in the world but as the build up to Brian Kerr's first competitive match as manager of the Ireland team rumbled on yesterday it's hard to imagine that, at a stretch, the Dubliner couldn't think of a few handier numbers just now.

With Robbie Keane mourning the loss of his father and several other key players ruled out by injury, Kerr worked quietly away behind the scenes yesterday, making final preparations for this morning's five-hour flight to Tbilisi.

After the morning's training session it was Chris Hughton who met the press and informed them that all was as well as could be expected in the camp. Gary Doherty had been the only player not to get a run out, because of a minor back strain, and Kerr's latest call-up, Jeff Kenna, had not arrived in time to join up with the rest of the squad.

The Birmingham City defender hasn't started an international for more than four years and his last appearance in an Ireland shirt was in the second leg of the Republic's European Championship play-off against Turkey when the Dubliner replaced the injured Steve Carr after just four minutes only to be brought off himself shortly before the end.

He is unlikely to see much action over the next week either but then, with the lack of cover at full-back, the threat of someone picking up an injury on Saturday and the very fact that he has been performing solidly for his club in the Premiership, a return is not out of the question.

"He's a good addition for us," said Hughton. "He's played regularly this year and in a couple of different positions. He scored a rare goal against us up there at St Andrews and he's come back well after some difficult times - that's what you're always telling players they have to do, ride the disappointments and stick at it because you never know what's around the corner."

Hughton passed quickly over the question of Keane's situation, giving no indication whether the 22-year-old has made up his mind on whether or not to travel to either Tbilisi or Tirana after the burial of his father, Robbie senior, this morning. There is still some speculation that the striker will make his way to the Georgian capital ahead of Saturday's game but Kerr's assistant said only that "we must respect Robbie's wishes and the wishes of his family".

Back in the camp the closest thing there was to injury news was the word from Birmingham that Clinton Morrison is indeed to miss the rest of the season. "All you can do," said Hughton when given the update on the player, "is remember that sometimes these things don't end up being as bad as they look initially but if he does miss more games then we'll just have to get on with it without him."

Getting on with it has become something of a theme for the week but Hughton, like the players who will travel this morning, maintains that there is still very much the makings of a team within this squad that can begin the process of playing Ireland back into contention in this European Championship campaign.

"It won't be easy," said Hughton, "but we have a fair idea of what we have to do. We've watched a lot of videos and while there's always the question, when you watch four or five games and one or two of them are friendlies and they try new players, as to what team your opponents are actually going to put out we feel we have an idea of what to expect over the next week.

"When it comes to preparing the players, though, it will be a question of player identification and getting across an idea of what system they'll be playing against. The Georgians generally play three at the back but they're flexible, physically strong, pass the ball well and they have the ability, if you give them the chance, to cause you problems."

Georgia coach, Alexander Chivadze, meanwhile, has a problem or two of his own. He is without injured Milan star Kahka Kaldze - whose brother has not been seen since being kidnapped in the wake of the player's move to Italy - for Saturday's game while Zurab Khizanishvili is suspended having received a red card in the 4-1 defeat by Switzerland.

Chivadze, though, says: "The match with Ireland is the key clash for us. We all consider the match to be our last chance to earn a pass to the European finals. We have already lost a game in Switzerland and we cannot lose more points at home."

IRELAND

Kiely (Charlton Athletic), Colgan (Hibernian), Given (Newcastle United); Carr (Tottenham Hotspur), Kenna (Birmingham City), Breen (West Ham United), O'Brien (Newcastle United), Cunningham (Birmingham City), Dunne (Manchester City), O'Shea (Manchester United); Carsley (Everton), Healy (Celtic), McPhail (Leeds United), Lee (Rotherham United), Kinsella (Aston Villa), Holland (Ipswich Town), Quinn (Sheffield Wednesday); Duff (Blackburn Rovers), Kilbane (Sunderland), Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Connolly (Wimbledon), Keane (Tottenham Hotspur), Barrett (Arsenal - on loan to Brighton and Hove Albion).

GEORGIA

Goalkeepers: Gvaramadze (Dynamo Tbilisi), Lomaya (Lokomotiv Tbilisi)

Defenders: Kemoklidze, Didava (both Kocaelispor/Tur), Khizanishvili, (Dundee/Sco), Khizanishvili, Shashiashvili, Amisulashvili (all Dynamo Tbilisi)

Midfielders: Kinkladze (Derby County/Eng), Dzamarauli (Metalurg Donetsk/UKR), Nemsadze (Dundee/Sco), Ketsbaya (Anorthosis Famagusta/CYP), Rekhviashvili (Torpedo-Metallurg/Rus), Kobiashvili, Tskitishvili (Freiburg/Ger), Kvirkvelia (Dynamo Tbilisi) Forwards: Arveladze (Glasgow Rangers/Sco), Iashvili (Freiburg/Ger), Demetradze (Metalurg Donetsk/UKR), Ashvetia (Vladikavkaz/RUS).