Kerr has preparations well on course

SOCCER/Republic of Ireland workout: While most of their club colleagues were in far-flung places working on their tans and handicaps yesterday, the members of Brian Kerr's squad for next month's two European Championship qualifiers were back in Dublin where golf was certainly on the agenda for most but the sun, well, let's not expect miracles of Ireland in May, shall we.

Kerr chuckled as Robbie Keane explained that conditions on the course were less than ideal but the manager seemed perfectly content to see his players engage in any sort of physical exertion at this stage of their preparations for the games against Albania and Georgia.

This week's workload, it seems, might best be described as light and rather laid-back. A few runs, a couple of games and, for those who fancied the additional exertion, the odd workout in the gym afterwards is about the extent of it but, explained Kerr, the intention in gathering everybody together this week was simply to keep the players ticking over before the work begins in earnest in Monaghan next week.

"The lads have already had a week or so and some of them have used the time differently. Some probably thought that they needed a rest to get a long season out of their system, others have been doing a bit more work. We've tried to accommodate everybody and fit in with whatever they feel they should be doing at this stage.

"It's just the start of the build-up, the less physical stuff, but we know what we're in for and when we get up to Monaghan that's what we'll be working towards . . . two tough games in four days."

Millwall midfielder Steven Reid, the subject of intensifying transfer speculation, joined the squad yesterday although not to take any real part in the run-outs.

The word in Blackburn is that the Irish midfielder will soon become Reid of the Rovers with his London club set to accept a modest sounding £2 million fee for the versatile 22-year-old.

Asked about the report, Damien Duff insisted with some pride that he was responsible for the whole shebang as, "it was me who recommended that the club sign him in the first place".

Reid's recuperation from injury still makes him a doubt for the games against Albania and Georgia but when it comes to Duff the only question is, after his success while playing behind the front two against Norway recently, is where Kerr will choose to deploy him.

The manager insisted yesterday that it was something he was still considering but warned against reading too much into that one game.

"Damien's played there before just as Robbie has placed out wide at times. The point I made before was that I want the team to become a little bit more flexible. The lads are well used to it at club level where Spurs, for instance, sometimes play a 3-5-2 with Stephen Carr playing as a wing back and I just think that we could do with becoming as adaptable at international level. Sometimes the system has to suit the players, but sometimes they should be willing to suit the system too."

Kerr's skipper in his first two competitive games, Kenny Cunningham, reckons that Duff's impact against the Norwegians was such that, long term, the new manager should be inclined to play him in the more central role.

"He's such a talented lad," said the central defender, "that you want to have him in the engine room, you want him in the centre of the field and you want him as close to the opposition goal as you can get him.

"It's a role he's ideally suited to and he was superb in it against Norway but I would say that you more or less know what to expect when the Albanians come away from home. They're going to play with three across the back and with wing backs and in that situation Brian is going to have to weigh up whether, tactically, it's better to have Duffer in the centre like that or out on the wing, getting behind people out wide where teams that play that formation can leave themselves a little vulnerable."

Cunningham is hopeful that he can reclaim his own place in the Irish starting line-up.

Meanwhile, Sunderland full back Mark Rossiter has been offered a one-year extension to his contract by Mick McCarthy. The defender, who made three first-team appearances for the club last year, is recovering from a cruciate injury sustained while playing for the Irish under-21s against Albania but expects to be fit and playing again by October.

Former Newcastle United player Joe Kendrick has completed his move to Bundesliga  side   1860 Munich. The centre half had a number of trials since being let go by the Premiership club but after several weeks of talks he has signed a three-year deal with the German club.

Ireland under-19 manager Sean McCaffrey is expected to name his strongest side possible to play Slovenia at Tolka Park tonight   (7:30). Although Ireland cannot  qualify for the European Championship in Liechtenstein, seedings for next season's competition are still up for grabs meaning the clash will be very competitive.

McCaffrey will, however, be forced to make changes to the team that beat Switzerland on Wednesday with Glenn Whelan and Paul Keegan both suspended, while Killian Brennan is almost certainly out with a knee injury.

England, who have already qualified for the finals after beating the mini-tournament hosts and then Slovenia, will play the Swiss at O2 Park this evening.