McShane to captain youthful Irish
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Giovanni Trapattoni has named a youthful team to face the Ireland
U23’s in Tuesday night’s friendly at Malahide (kick-off 6.30pm).
The team that will face Paul Doolin’s side is comprised of the players that are currently involved in the training camp with Hull City defender Paul McShane captaining the team.
The 24 year old has said that the lack of regular senior players means that he will have an important role to play in helping the new players settle into the side.
“It’s my job to get across to the players on the pitch what the boss wants. It’s a great opportunity for everyone involved to impress the manager and they realise that he is looking out for somebody to catch his eye” McShane said.
As expected Kieran Westwood will deputise in goal for the injured Shay Given while Celtic defender Darren O’ Dea will play at centre half alongside Everton’s Shane Duffy. Duffy’s inclusion in the squad was mired in controversy after the 18 year old had represented Northern Ireland at youth level from under 16’s right up to 21’s.
It remains unlikely, however, that the Everton youngster will feature in the upcoming matches against Algeria and Paraguay because the Court of Arbitration for Sport are yet to make a final decision on the issue.
Coventry shot stopper Westwood will certainly play an important role in the friendlies against the World Cup bound duo and the Irish manager was full of praise faith for the talented 25 year old saying: “He was always in our thoughts. We know that in the future, even though Shay is still very young, that Westwood is a great personality who is very confident and has a good physique”.
The left back position is yet to be decided but with Preston’s Eddie Nolan struggling with a swollen knee it looks likely that Manchester City’s Greg Cunningham will start. The 19 year old Galway defender only made his Manchester City debut against Scunthorpe in January and was on the bench in Ireland’s recent 2-0 defeat to Brazil capping off a tremendous year.
In midfield Stoke City winger Liam Lawrence is expected to play on the right wing, though hasn’t arrived in the country yet. There is also a chance for Birmingham and ex-St Patricks Athletic playmaker Keith Fahey to impress the manager when he starts alongside Derby County’s Paul Greene in the middle of the park.
Fahey featured in 34 league games for Alex McLeish’s side this season and has proved to be a big hit at St Andrews since he moved from Inchicore in January 2009.
Trapatonni has been impressed with the talented midfielder and spoke very highly of the 27 year old. “I think Fahey’s mentality is strong,” Trap said. “He isn’t a very strong physical player but he is very versatile. He can play on the left or on the right and he isn’t afraid on the pitch. He has shown his quality in England which is not an easy thing to do. He has good vision, personality on the ball and he can also shoot very well”.
Reading’s Shane Long slots, perhaps uncomfortably, in at left wing, while Leon Best and Cillian Sheridan will spearhead the attack. As for the the under 23’s Seamus Conneely (thigh) is definitely ruled out, while Darren Quigley (elbow) is doubtful. Manager Paul Doolin has called Dundalk defender Shaun Kelly into the squad for the training match, although Conneely is expected to be fit enough to take his place in the squad for the game against England in the RSC on May 26th.
The team that will face Paul Doolin’s side is comprised of the players that are currently involved in the training camp with Hull City defender Paul McShane captaining the team.
The 24 year old has said that the lack of regular senior players means that he will have an important role to play in helping the new players settle into the side.
“It’s my job to get across to the players on the pitch what the boss wants. It’s a great opportunity for everyone involved to impress the manager and they realise that he is looking out for somebody to catch his eye” McShane said.
As expected Kieran Westwood will deputise in goal for the injured Shay Given while Celtic defender Darren O’ Dea will play at centre half alongside Everton’s Shane Duffy. Duffy’s inclusion in the squad was mired in controversy after the 18 year old had represented Northern Ireland at youth level from under 16’s right up to 21’s.
It remains unlikely, however, that the Everton youngster will feature in the upcoming matches against Algeria and Paraguay because the Court of Arbitration for Sport are yet to make a final decision on the issue.
Coventry shot stopper Westwood will certainly play an important role in the friendlies against the World Cup bound duo and the Irish manager was full of praise faith for the talented 25 year old saying: “He was always in our thoughts. We know that in the future, even though Shay is still very young, that Westwood is a great personality who is very confident and has a good physique”.
The left back position is yet to be decided but with Preston’s Eddie Nolan struggling with a swollen knee it looks likely that Manchester City’s Greg Cunningham will start. The 19 year old Galway defender only made his Manchester City debut against Scunthorpe in January and was on the bench in Ireland’s recent 2-0 defeat to Brazil capping off a tremendous year.
In midfield Stoke City winger Liam Lawrence is expected to play on the right wing, though hasn’t arrived in the country yet. There is also a chance for Birmingham and ex-St Patricks Athletic playmaker Keith Fahey to impress the manager when he starts alongside Derby County’s Paul Greene in the middle of the park.
Fahey featured in 34 league games for Alex McLeish’s side this season and has proved to be a big hit at St Andrews since he moved from Inchicore in January 2009.
Trapatonni has been impressed with the talented midfielder and spoke very highly of the 27 year old. “I think Fahey’s mentality is strong,” Trap said. “He isn’t a very strong physical player but he is very versatile. He can play on the left or on the right and he isn’t afraid on the pitch. He has shown his quality in England which is not an easy thing to do. He has good vision, personality on the ball and he can also shoot very well”.
Reading’s Shane Long slots, perhaps uncomfortably, in at left wing, while Leon Best and Cillian Sheridan will spearhead the attack. As for the the under 23’s Seamus Conneely (thigh) is definitely ruled out, while Darren Quigley (elbow) is doubtful. Manager Paul Doolin has called Dundalk defender Shaun Kelly into the squad for the training match, although Conneely is expected to be fit enough to take his place in the squad for the game against England in the RSC on May 26th.
