Irish managerial vacancy:The search for Ireland's new manager is still on course to be completed by the middle of next week according to Don Givens who is believed to have met with former Derby boss, Billy Davies, yesterday.

The Scot is considered an outsider for the post and appears to have been given an interview on the basis of the recruitment panel's commitment to speak to ever credible candidate who put his name forward. Givens said yesterday he expects the committee to be in a position to make its recommendation to the FAI board at some stage between Monday and Wednesday next week.

The hope appears to be that they will meet Giovanni Trapattoni over the weekend.

Stephen Ireland, meanwhile, has said that he sees himself playing international football again at some point in the not too distant future but the 21-year-old appears to have spent this week enjoying the build-up to tomorrow's Manchester derby.

"Derby weeks are brilliant, you can feel the excitement building up in the city and in the club," he said. "The intensity is there and you can almost feel the pressure," Ireland said.

"These games are huge and a vital part of any young player's education," said the Corkman. "It is an amazing contest to be part of. I have played in a few derbies now and been lucky enough to have been in a winning side. It is a great feeling and so important.

"Results haven't been great of late, but we know what we are capable of and we will not go to Old Trafford fearing them, even though they are in top form."