Trap hints at key role for Hoolahan

After last month's furore over his future, talk returned to football for Giovanni Trapattoni as his squad gathered at Malahide this morning ahead of Wednesday night's friendly with Greece at the Aviva.

After overseeing a light training session at Gannon Park, the Ireland manager highlighted the important part James McCarthy and Wes Hoolahan will play in his side come Wednesday.
 

Much of the focus will be on Norwich City's Hoolahan following his long awaited recall to the squad.

  
“He deserves to come in with us,” said Trapattoni of the former Shels player.  “I reminded him we hadn’t forgotten him.   We have followed him always but we’ve chosen other systems but in this game I wish to give him this chance.

  
“We look to renew the team with young players like James McCarthy but we always followed him (Hoolahan) as he plays well with his team. We thought he deserved this opportunity.  The first time I tried McCarthy behind the striker but he has been better in midfield.   We chose two strikers before because I thought our team needed that system to score goals.  Now at this moment, it is right to give him this opportunity, as he deserves this.

  
“McCarthy has improved very much.  I think he can do more with his quality, his strength and speed.  He has a good shot.  He can conduct play in midfield as he is good technically.  If he continues to improve, he can be a great player for us.”

  
Wednesday’s game is the first home game since the heavy 6-1 defeat to Germany and the subsequent win in the Faroe Islands.  The Italian manager spoke about how well the players responded to the loss to Joachim Loew's team and how he wants that positive response to continue if the team is to qualify for Brazil 2014.  “After this defeat, it is normal that there is criticism but we were playing against the second best team in the world. 

 

“We were missing six or seven players from the squad including Richard Dunne.  I repeated to the team today it is important that we continue because after the loss to Germany we won in the Faroes and that is not easy. 

 

“I know the team after Germany answered us in training and in the game (against the Faroes).  I said this morning we needed to continue this confident belief as we are only one point behind Sweden.”
  
 

Ireland dropped eight places in the FIFA world rankings to 36th position last week and so the friendly against 12th placed Greece has added some significance.  “This defeat against Germany was a disaster,” admitted Trap relating to the rankings.  “It is important we recovered immediately and we got a good result in the Faroes.  We can think, not just dream, that we can achieve the qualification objective.  Why not?

  

“We have necessity to bring in new players but we much watch the result as it brings enthusiasm and brings confidence.  The FAI and our national team needs the result.  We must not forget our difficulty that only a few players play in first teams in the top division in England.  We are not Brazil or Germany.  We need to support our team.”

  

The squad continues to be without injured players like Richard Dunne (groin injury) and Aiden McGeady (foot) and Keith Fahey who has withdrawn due to flu.  Ireland have drafted in Millwall's Andy Keogh and Chelsea’s Conor Clifford into the playing squad.

  

Trapattoni, who was in Wigan yesterday to watch Shane Long and James McCarthy in action, explained Sunday morning’s training session was simply about recovery from the previous days matches in England. “Today I look only at the players recovering energy.  We give them a bit of rest to be ready for the next game.  We saw Long play yesterday and he has said ‘I’m ok’.  We await the situation with Darren O’Dea and John O'Shea.  The others are a little bit tired and have some minor knocks but they will be ready in 24 hours.  Ward has a knock on his knee.

  

“I reminded the players that this is a friendly but all games for the national team are very very important for confidence and for the new experience.  It is important the players are here and available.  They want to be here.  The players are happy and positive and that is important.”