King to lay marker for the new 'king'

His name will not feature on the short-list of names being compiled by Ray Houghton and Ruud Dokter, the men entrusted with canvassing those managers with an interest in becoming the next Republic of Ireland manager – but Noel King appears determined to leave his mark.

The king-makers, as they are, will not have King even on their long-list of potential successors to Giovanni Trapattoni, but that hasn’t deterred the 57-year old Dubliner from getting his teeth stuck firmly into the position.

Appointed as interim manager a fortnight ago, King has already gone a long way in mending bridges: among his squad include the previously exiled Darron Gibson, Anthony Stokes, Andy Reid and Kevin Doyle.

It is not inconceivable, indeed, that Stokes and Gibson will start Friday’s game against Germany at the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne, while Reid’s performances for Nottingham Forest have been such that he will be hard to ignore when King selects his XI.

King will do things his way, but his selections against Germany and Kazakhstan could go a long way in shaping the thoughts of the incoming boss.

Robbie Keane is in the winter of his international career and there are increasing reservations within his club, LA Galaxy, about his participation. That said, Keane has never made any secret of his desire to play for Ireland.

A kick to his ankle on Tuesday at training in Malahide rendered the record appearance holder and record goalscorer as a doubt. His manager, Bruce Arena, had already requested that Keane be permitted to leave the Irish set-up post-Germany and pre-Kazakhstan to return to America.

King, though, declined.

“The Football Association of Ireland today confirmed that Noel King has responded this afternoon to the manager of LA Galaxy Bruce Arena to inform him that he has decided not to release Robbie Keane and trusts that he understands the position, having been an international manager himself,” a statement read.

It will be surely a point of debate very soon as to whether or not Keane will stick around for another campaign, by the end of which he’ll be 36. For Friday, the Irish management are ‘hopeful’ that Keane will spearhead the attack. For the future, the signs are unclear, but King has his mind clearly on the present, selecting as strong as squad as he could.

King will not be taking any gambles in Germany and is likely to want to end on a high note in Dublin on Tuesday.

“You have to work towards a belief and with a strategy that you think will get a result,” said King, who will be without first-choice centre-backs John O’Shea and Richard Dunne for the Germany game. He has both set to play in the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday.

For the returning faces, it’s a chance, too, to stake a claim.

“It’s always been a massive honour to play for my country,” said Reid, one of the form players in the Championship of late. “After a long break, it’s really good to be back amongst the group.”

This squad looks a stronger one than would have been chosen by Trapattoni. It is likely that three players from Everton, four points off the top of the Premier League, will see action on Friday: Seamus Coleman, Darron Gibson and James McCarthy.

For Gibson, it is another chance to make things right.

“It’s great to be back and I’m enjoying the week, but it feels like I’m starting all over again and I have to prove myself once more to the fans,” the Derryman said.

“It was tough to stay away, but it was my decision and I stuck to it.

“I felt I should have got the opportunity to play in the Euros, but I am delighted to be back in. Hopefully I’ll get my chance on Friday to show what I can do.”

Everton team-mate Seamus Coleman made the point that the players will all be looking to impress any prospective managers who will be watching.

Coleman played on that wretched night last year when Germany pummelled Ireland 6-1 in Dublin.

The Donegal native insists that night will not be thought about ahead of this week’s clash – and the German coach, Joachim Loew, has said that he feels Germany simply ‘caught Ireland off guard’.

“Ireland means defensively compact, maximum physical involvement, always high tempo,” he said.

“They can defend extremely well, they can be very organised. It does not matter who plays or who is their coach. It does not really affect their game.

“It's part of their tradition, to defend their own goal, like in Gaelic football or rugby. They always fight until they fall over. It does not matter if they trail 1-0 or 3-0, even if they don't have a chance or a very minimal of qualifying it does not mean they come with a gift for us.”

Certainly King will not be wrapping any presents for Germany. Dokter, the FAI’s Performance Director, has been aiding King this week. Asked by reporters about the appointments process, the Dutchman was coy, but he did confirm John Delaney’s suggestion that there had been several candidates sounded out.

Martin O’Neill talk has cooled somewhat, while the likes of Mick McCarthy, Roy Keane and Chris Hughton have been joined in spinning around the rumour mill’s wheel of fortune by the more ambitious suggestions of Gerard Houllier, Carlos Queiroz, Rene Meulensteen and even Guus Hiddink, Walter Zenga and Dick Advocaat are all said to be on the ‘to contact’ list of Dokter and Houghton, even if the possibilities of any of them being appointed seems remote.