King sweeps with clean brush

ANDY Reid's chance re-light his international career could come just 160km from where it infamously ended five years ago.

It was in a darkened corner of the Irish team hotel in Wiesbaden where Reid fell foul of Giovanni Trapattoni's intolerance of a late night sing-song.

The Republic of Ireland had beaten Georgia 2-1 in the nearby city of Mainz in their opening game of the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Accompanied by other senior players Reid was picked out as the ring-leader by Trapattoni, who attacked the player with a rolled-up copy of Gazzetta Dello Sport.

It was 2am and Ireland had a game three days later. 

Trapattoni's version of events is a disputed one, but what is clear is that Reid's name was jotted down in the Italian's black book after that night in Wiesbaden. 

The guitar-strumming Reid has not played for Ireland since a game against Wales the previous November.

Now, though, it seems as if the Nottingham Forest winger could make his long-awaited Ireland return in another German city after being included this afternoon in a 26-man panel by interim Irish manager Noel King, temporarily filling the void left by Trapattoni's departure.

Ireland take on Germany in Köln in 15 days' time. Köln is just 160km north of where Reid's entertainment went down like the lead balloon with Trapattoni.

"If we win, he can play all day long," joked the relaxed King as he faced the Irish media for the first time since he took on the caretaker's job last week.

For Reid to feature against the Germans, he'll have to hit the ground running from next Monday when King gathers the squad in Malahide. Reid is battling with the likes of Aiden McGeady, Wes Hoolahan, James McClean and Anthony Pilkington for inclusion.

King, though, is an admirer.

He said: "He seems to be doing very well. 

"I have made enquires about him to several people. He's playing well at Forest and is in good condition. I like him as a player.

"Technically he is very smart, international smart, and I'll be glad to have him in the group."

That King is on the throne is a surprise, but the Dubliner was the natural choice given that the FAI was in no rush to appoint Trapattoni's successor.

King is personable and this afternoon's press conference at the FAI offices in Abbotstown was a much more pleasant one that some of those hosted by his predecessors.

Even though he's only had seven days to get his squad together, King has been in touch with 'most' of the players and others, like Reid, can expect his number to flash up on their phones this evening or tomorrow.

King prides himself on his man management and has gone to some extraordinary lengths to get messages across in a managerial career that has taken in League of Ireland sides Derry City, Shamrock Rovers, Limerick and Finn Harps, as well as the Irish ladies and Irish Under 21 teams.

Before one game during his brief spell in Ballybofey, King pulled the physio's bench to the middle of the floor. After placing an array of props, including a chair and a crate, King ordered one of his young players to climb to the top of the shaky structure.

The confused youngster, to the amusement of his team-mates, clamoured his way before the house collapsed, tumbling the player.

Three team-mates were quick on the draw to soften the fall. "That's what I want out there tonight lads - we're in this together and we'll fight together," he informed his audience. Message received.

Now with a wide array of stars to deal with, King admitted his own surprise at getting the call from the FAI last week.

"My focus was on the under 21s and getting everything ready for the remaining games," he said.

"I had a week to change the mind and get this out. It was difficult and I did rely a bit on scouts, friends and people I trust. 

"Everybody knows how happy I am to be involved in the two games - I hope that I am as happy at the end of the two games."

King said he picked 'the best players suited to try and win both games' - and the Dubliner was bullish in stating his hopes for the double header.

He said: "Two wins. It would be unnatural to look for anything else. 

"I have never prepared for a game and said: 'we'll go out and lose'. 

"There have been occasions as a game develops and evolves where you think that a draw would be an excellent result. You have to be prepared to take a game when the opportunity arises."

King sounded out Stephen Ireland, but the Stoke man felt the time wasn't right, while Anthony Stokes, Kevin Doyle and Darron Gibson are included as King stated that the past mattered not an iota. He was starting, he said, with 'a clean slate'.

Gibson was on a self-imposed exile after becoming angered at frustrated after being over-looked at Euro 2012. Paul Green was the player who profited at Gibson's expense last summer and the much-maligned Leeds player is included again, having shown his worth in recent games.

King shrugged off a suggestion that there could be tension in the Gannon Park air next week.

"When a manager picks a team, he picks the best team that he thinks," he said.

"There will always be arguments and different opinions - that's part and parcel of football."

On Green, he added: "He has been in the team and done well. It would be very harsh just to go and say: 'you're not involved'.

"Mine is a learning process. We're in camp now for ten days and I'm looking forward to seeing how they play and how they perform."

While Darren O'Dea, Simon Cox, David Meyler and Andy Keogh have been left out, Wes Hoolahan is again on the list, with King hailing the 'tremendous' progress of the Norwich man.

King was in Irish dressing rooms for some of the biggest games in the country's history when he was part of Jack Charlton's staff for Italia '90. 

He'll have to summon all that he learned on those nights in Cagliari, Palermo, Genoa and Rome as Ireland head for a daunting assignment against a German team who put the first knot in Trapattoni's noose with their 6-1 win in Dublin last year.

"By my nature I'll do it the way I think it should be done. I've watched this team before," King said.

The squad certainly has his stamp upon it.