Trap hints at three-man midfield again

Having lost four members of his squad to injury, Giovanni Trapattoni remained in  positive mood this morning as he looked to put a manic Monday behind him.

Kevin Doyle, Sean St Ledger, Glenn Whelan and James McClean joined a lengthy absentee list after picking up injuries with their clubs over the weekend. However, there was better news for the Irish boss on Tuesday morning with the sight of captain Robbie Keane and Aiden McGeady taking a full part in training after joining up with the squad on Monday evening.

Trapattoni has a number of selection issues ahead of Friday’s Group C clash with the side currently ranked second in the world and there was more evidence that he will deploy a midfield trio of David Meyler, James McCarthy and Keith Andrews for the first time given the absence of the ever present Glenn Whelan.

Injuries will force the 73-year-old to think on his feet and experiment but he will not make any decisions until he has time to work with the players.

“I have to decide in two days. After tomorrow, we will decide,” he said. “We are missing five players, but I am confident about the quality we have, and two or three players have grown a little bit in personality.

“I am optimistic because I know the German players, I know their attitude, their quality, but we also have a little bit of that quality and discipline. I am confident about this.”

On his midfield dilemma, Trapattoni added: “Glenn is a big loss to us because nobody else really plays in his exact position.

“We have Keith Andrews, we have also James McCarthy and Keith Fahey, but they are a little bit different. McCarthy is fast, David Meyler is tall, which could be important against this opponent and Keith Fahey is also good technically. They have different qualities.”

Another area of concern for Trapattoni will be his back four, where he will be without the services of regular centre backs Richard Dunne and Sean St Ledger for the visit of  Joachim Loew’s side.

Regular right back John O’Shea is expected to partner Darren O’Dea at the heart of the Irish rear guard but the berth vacated by the Sunderland defender means Seamus Coleman, Paul McShane and Stephen Kelly and even Marc Wilson are all in contention to line-out.

“Sometimes we need a defender to go like a winger. Wilson plays with geometry while Coleman goes. We will have to decide,” Trap said.

There was no sign of shot stopper Kieren Westwood but the management later confirmed the Sunderland ‘keeper was being rested and was training in the gym.

In addition, Trapattoni also confirmed Robbie Keane may be utilised as a lone striker with either Jon Walters or Simon Cox on the opposite flank to Aiden McGeady.

"Robbie Keane has good personality and we need also a striker to keep the ball and use it to bring others into play. But we have a good balance with our strikers.

“We have Shane Long and we have also on Jon Walters and Simon Cox, who has played many times wide, and the substitutions will be very, very important in this game."

Despite the problems he faces, Trap is happy that his players are fresh and ready to give their all in the battle for qualification points.

"It's the start of the season and we have fresh energy. It's not March or April, the players are fresh.

"In spring, it usually go down, but now we have energy. I have said to the players we must give 100 per cent energy. Only with this can we confront Germany."