REP OF IRELAND:GIOVANNI Trapattoni's hopes of fielding a strong Republic of Ireland team against Norway on Wednesday were further dented over the weekend as he lost three quarters of his regular back four along with Ciarán Clark, the young Aston Villa defender who had been expected to make his debut in an Ireland shirt.
Richard Dunne and Kevin Kilbane are definitely out of the game after picking up knocks in club games over the weekend while Seán St Ledger, who played through Preston’s match on Friday night despite having injured his knee in the opening stages, is expected to join up with the squad today but not play on Wednesday.
Clark, meanwhile, didn’t even make it as far as the kick-off in Villa’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United on Saturday with the 21-year-old apparently picking up a knock in the warm-up. Kevin Doyle also looked to be a doubt for the game although the Wolves striker did play on Saturday despite having a broken hand.
“There are many injuries,” confirmed assistant coach Marco Tardelli yesterday. “St Ledger, Richard Dunne, Kilbane have big problems. We can try the new players. I don’t know if they will start or play in the second half, but it’s more possible they will play.”
Kilbane’s problem, the Italian confirmed, is with his back, while St Ledger, he suggested, might be examined by the FAI’s medical staff before a decision is made on whether to rule him out or not.
Clark, he also hinted, would have started the game had the defender been fit and cleared to switch his international allegiance by Fifa.
The loss of so many defenders, following on from Paul McShane’s withdrawal along with Robbie Keane and Caleb Folan late last week will, in any case, leave Trapattoni with little option but to give other young players a run out.
Séamus Coleman and Marc Wilson now look good bets to make their debuts while Greg Cunningham, now playing regularly at Leicester where he is on loan from Manchester City, stands a good chance of coming back in at left back.
“It’s a good opportunity against a big team,” said Tardelli. “Don’t forget that Norway are 13th place in the world, but it’s a very difficult match for the young players.
“Cunningham played before in a friendly match. I think now he plays for Leicester very well, I saw his last match. He is good, he is the future for Ireland .
“Every player has a chance, I don’t know how many (of the new) players start or how many play in the second half. I know very well this player, but in the Norway side there are a lot of tall players and I think we will have difficulty without St Ledger, Richard Dunne.”
Tardelli ruled out the prospect of calling up any replacements at this stage, insisting that there is not yet a pressing case for adding anyone that had been overlooked in the first place.
As to how Trapattoni will rearrange his defence so as to cope with the loss of so many regulars, he suggested that John O’Shea could move into the centre where he might be partnered by Stephen Kelly, who plays almost all of his football at right or left back.
“I don’t know,” he said. “Maybe. But it’s possible.”
