SOCCER INTERNATIONAL NEWS:PAUL McSHANE is set to make his first start of the World Cup qualifying campaign next week against Cyprus after Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni revealed yesterday he has only to decide on how to allocate the right-back and centre-half roles between the Dubliner and John O'Shea.
While Damien Duff returns to the squad as expected, Trapattoni more or less ruled out a return to the team for Andy Reid when the manager confirmed he will not change the shape of the team in the absence of key central midfielder Steven Reid.
Asked about possible replacements for the Blackburn player, the coach confirmed he had checked on the availability of Lee Carsley, only to be told he is injured, and on the fitness of Liam Miller who, he said, is fine and, it seems, is now the most likely candidate for the role of partnering Glenn Whelan at the heart of the team.
"We can change the person but not the tactics," said the manager emphatically. "The team has a good balance now and we must keep that for the game against Cyprus. They will not be easy. I have watched the game against Italy and they were strong, but we will be strong too."
In relation to Steve Finnan's absence, Trapattoni clearly views McShane as pretty much the automatic beneficiary of the Espanyol defender's injury. "He is qualified," he said, before observing that both the 22-year-old and O'Shea have played well in both positions for their country.
With Stephen Kelly also injured, Kevin Foley is the most prominent specialist right back in the squad and he, noted the veteran coach, "is new in the team".
Almost inevitably, Rory Delap's form at Stoke City prompted a question about the midfielder's prospects of being recalled from the international wilderness, but it was far from clear that Trapattoni entirely understood the question.
In any case, he appeared to dismiss the importance of throw-ins and didn't really say anything at all about the player, simply insisting instead he is aware of all the serious options open to him.
"We have 30 to 35 players and we have looked at every one of them," he said. "We can't change all of the players all of the time. We just look to change one at a time."
On the other hand, the manager seemed entirely happy to talk specifically about Stephen Ireland and James McCarthy, the subject of both he raised himself.
Since contacts with the Manchester City midfielder came to nothing, Trapattoni has, somewhat uncharacteristically, been along to see the Corkman in person, although it was Sunday's performance against Liverpool that was freshest in his mind.
"He scored a good goal," he said, "but more than that, he played very, very well."
Ireland's behaviour since making his bizarre exit from the international stage in Bratislava last year, combined with recent comments to the effect that he prefers to concentrate on his club career, strongly suggest he will not be gracing an Irish team any time soon. Only yesterday, indeed, his City team-mate Richard Dunne expressed the opinion that the 22-year-old will probably remain on the international sidelines for the foreseeable future.
Trapattoni, however, continues, he says, to have a hunch that the midfielder will return. "I have a feeling," he said, "that maybe in the future he can change, that he can think, 'I can go again with the Irish team'."
McCarthy, however, may well be making his senior international debut quite some time before Ireland's return. The highly-rated 17-year-old Hamilton midfielder opted several years ago to play for the Republic rather than the country of his birth, but the much miffed Scottish FA, it seems, are making a sustained effort to prompt a chance of allegiances on his part.
If they do not succeed in turning his head over the next few weeks, then their pressure may instead lead to the youngster making his senior debut against Poland at Croke Park in November. Before then, Trapattoni confirmed, he will be taking time out to speak in person with the player.
First up for the Italian, though, is tomorrow night's challenge match involving what is effectively an Irish B team against Nottingham Forest at Dalymount Park. "I am very, very lucky," he said, "to have this great opportunity to get to know some of the young players. Next week the (senior) squad will be 90 per cent the same as before, but I said to the players today that I will keep maybe one or two or three of them with me for the Cyprus game."
The places, he said, are up for grabs, but Caleb Folan was mentioned as a leading early contender, with Martin Rowlands another believed to be in with a shout. They and the rest of the B squad train at Malahide again this morning, after which Trapattoni, if his form is anything to go by, will name his team.
Despite his reluctance to change things unnecessarily in senior games, the Italian said he will try to give a few of those who start on the bench a run-out, suggesting that he will change up to four players with 35 minutes or more of the game remaining.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD V CYPRUS
GOALKEEPERSGiven (Newcastle Utd), Kiely (WBA), Murphy (Scunthorpe Utd).
DEFENDERSBruce (Ipswich Town), Delaney (QPR), Dunne (Manchester City), Kilbane (Wigan), O'Brien (Bolton), O'Shea (Manchester Utd), McShane (Sunderland).
MIDFIELDERSHunt (Reading), McGeady (Celtic), Duff (Newcastle Utd, pictured), Miller (Sunderland), Reid (Sunderland), Whelan (Stoke City).
STRIKERSDoyle (Reading), Keane (Liverpool), Keogh (Wolves), Long (Reading), Murphy (Sunderland).
