HAVING MISSED out on the training week in the Algarve Robbie Keane, the Republic of Ireland captain, and Richard Dunne joined up with the squad in Dublin yesterday on its return from Portugal, and took part in training in Malahide in the late afternoon. Manager Giovanni Trapattoni expects both players to take part in tomorrow's game against Serbia at Croke Park.
John O'Shea is expected back in Dublin today, having been an unused substitute for Manchester United in Wednesday's Champions League triumph, while Trapattoni, a self-professed Aiden McGeady fan, will await news of the Celtic man's condition after last night's Scottish Premier League title-decider against Dundee United.
"It was important today that Richard and Robbie returned to the squad," said the manager. "I spoke to them and I clarified a little bit what we had done in Portugal. They understand the system and our formation, I think they know what we want. We will play this system on Saturday and I think they are happy. This is important as our opponents will be far stronger than those we played in Portugal."
When asked what role Keane would fill in his Irish side Trapattoni lavishly praised the Dubliner once again, insisting that he had the "intelligence" to adapt to any position he asked him to play. "I said last month how important Robbie is to the team. As a footballer he has power, is creative and is intelligent. He also has experience and has a great personality.
"I have seen many, many Ireland games on DVD and I have also seen how in England the ball flies through the air. But I think Robbie needs to play football - when the ball is in the air we need to blast it from the sky with a shotgun! It's not easy, but that is the way we will have to play."
Queens Park Rangers midfielder Martin Rowlands, who is struggling with an ankle injury, and Darren Potter (heel) are both doubts for tomorrow, but Wes Hoolahan, the Blackpool midfielder, trained yesterday after recovering from a knock to the knee. The gloomy weather? "It is better that it is like this because the sun is only here for a holiday," said Trapattoni. A rain-sodden Croke Park, then, won't concern him, so long as he gets his reign as Republic of Ireland manager off to a positive start.
Meanwhile, Paul McShane says his difficult Premier League campaign with Sunderland has simply served as a motivation to force his way back into the picture.
He said: "It is probably the hardest period I have gone through in my career so far. It has been a steep learning curve over the last three months or so to see how the game works. I have also had the chance to just sit back and look at our team and look at other teams play. I have become stronger from it. It's not a nice thing to do, but that's the way it was."
