Sheridan thrown in at the deep end

UNDER-21 INTERNATIONAL:CELTIC STRIKER Cillian Sheridan is one of three young players in line to make Ireland under-21 debuts against Germany at Turner's Cross in Cork tonight ( 7.45pm, live on Sky Sports 3).

Currently on loan at Motherwell, the Monaghan-born player is just one of many manager Don Givens is keen to see tested against opposition of tonight’s quality.

“I haven’t worked with him previously but I know a fair bit about him,” says Givens. “He’s a good, big strong forward and we don’t get too many like him, really. Hopefully he’ll settle in well at this level.

“It’ll be good to see how Christy Fagan gets on too. He’s been down in Spain with the Glenn Hoddle academy since leaving Manchester United and by all accounts he’s been doing well. I was talking to Glenn recently and he reckons Christy could be the first player they get back into football; apparently there have been a few Spanish clubs interested in him.”

Tonight’s game is part of Ireland’s preparations for the start of the 2011 Euro Championship campaign which kicks off, after another friendly against Spain, with the visit of Turkey in March.

For the Germans, meanwhile, the focus is on this summer’s championship finals in Sweden, with the result that the visitors are that little bit older that their hosts.

“There’s a year or so in it,” acknowledges Givens, “but I don’t think that will make too much of a difference at this stage of their careers. The Germans will have that bit more experience which will certainly count for something but it’s a good challenge for lads and we’ll be looking for them to rise to the occasion.

“For their own sakes, it’s important the players show they can perform against teams of this quality. We beat Lithuania 3-0 before Christmas but the fact is that playing well against Lithuania is not going to earn a lad a call-up to the senior squad. Showing you can do it against the likes of Germany is what’ll get you noticed.”

Germany include Bundesliga players Sami Khedira (Stuggart), Dennis Aogo (Hamburg) and Daniel Halfar (Bielfeld).

IRELAND UNDER-21 TEAM

Shane Redmond (Nottingham F); Brendan Moloney (Nottingham F), Shane Lowry (Aston Villa), Michael Spillane (Norwich City), Michael Liddle (Carlisle Utd), Stephen Gleeson (Wolves), James McCarthy (Hamilton), Owen Garvan (Ipswich), Alan Judge (Plymouth), Cillian Sheridan (Motherwell), Sean Scannell (C Palace).

TONIGHT’S SOCCER

(7.45 unless stated)

Internationals: Brazil v Italy (live on RTÉ Two and Sky Sports 1); Cyprus v Serbia (5.0); Slovakia v Ukraine (5.0). Under-21 friendlies: Ecuador v England (8.0); N Ireland v Wales; Rep of Ireland v Germany. English League One: Carlisle v Walsall; Colchester v Tranmere; Crewe v Bristol Rovers; Brighton v Peterborough. League Two: Accrington Stanley v Brentford; Barnet v Grimsby; Exeter v Macclesfield; Morecambe v Lincoln City; Rotherham v Bury. Irish League – Division One: Portadown v Killymoon Rangers.