SOCCER:GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI'S decision yesterday to omit Aston Villa defender Ciarán Clark from his final 25-man squad for next week's friendly international against Croatia at the Aviva stadium strongly suggests that he now sees Stephen Ward as the main rival to Kevin Kilbane for the left back position in the Irish team for the remaining qualifiers in this European Championship campaign.

Even after 110 appearances at this level, however, Kilbane, has signalled that he is not yet ready to surrender the shirt to the Dubliner with the 33-year-old yesterday completing a move to Derby County where regular first-team Championship football might well enable him to retain his place as Trapattoni’s first choice until next summer.

“I’m looking forward to the Aston Villa match (a friendly this evening in which Kilbane may make his debut), but obviously Birmingham at the weekend is the key game and I’m very much hoping to be involved in that,” said the former Wigan, Everton and Sunderland star after training with his new team-mates for the first time yesterday.

“I knew it was going to be difficult to get back into the frame back up at Hull. There were a few other options floating about, but when Derby came up I wanted to come. I know what a very good club it is and the facilities that are here.

“It’s a wonderful move for me. I was pleased with my contribution at Huddersfield and I’m well aware that this is a step back up to the Championship.

“I’m hoping that I can show what I’m worth and be part of a successful team.”

The move is a loan one, initially for six months, but manager Nigel Clough is optimistic that the veteran can make a major impact at Pride Park.

“Kevin brings a wealth of experience as well as an ability to play in a variety of different positions,” he said.

“He’s an international footballer and it’s exciting to add another player of that ilk. Given the sort of character and player that he is, we have no doubt that he’ll do a good job for us.”

Keith Treacy, meanwhile, also completed his move to Burnley yesterday. “I’m sorry to be leaving Preston, but you’ve got to think about yourself and be selfish,” said the Dubliner.

“I enjoyed my time there and their relegation was unfortunate, but obviously I’m looking to better myself as a player, have the best career I can and play as many games as I can for Ireland.”

The Irishman has signed a three-year contract with the move believed to be worth something in the region of €1.2 million.

Aside from Clark, who has simply been left out, and Kilbane, who has been given time to get settled at his new club, the rest of the omissions confirmed yesterday have been on the basis of injuries to players.

John O’Shea, who was out of the squad then back into it over the weekend, is now gone, with the former Manchester United defender apparently deciding to heed the manager’s advice and rest his hamstring injury after discussing the situation with the medical staff at Sunderland.

Also gone are Liam Lawrence, Aiden McGeady, Kevin Foley and Paul McShane.

The loss of McShane, who captained the side against Italy in Liege, will limit the manager’s options at right back, but the calf injury that has prompted his withdrawal from the game is a far greater blow to the defender himself, with Hull confirming that he is likely to be sidelined until October.

McShane had spoken at the end of last season about his hopes of a move away from City, where he felt his opportunities would be limited, but his prospects had seemed a bit brighter after being involved in the club’s pre-season.

Now, however, Hull are reported to be in the market for another defender and McShane will miss any immediate opportunity to get away.

Keith Andrews, on the other hand, looks set to leave Blackburn Rovers by the end of this week with Ipswich Town the frontrunners amongst a pack of Championship sides to land the defensive midfielder.

Shane Long’s future, though, remains in the balance with Sven Goran Eriksson confirming that he would regard it as a “dream to bring in a player who can get 20 goals,” but neither he nor any of the Premier League clubs that have thus far expressed an interest in the striker are willing, it seems, to meet Reading’s €9 million plus valuation of the player.

Martin Rowlands, meanwhile, is set to leave QPR after manager Neil Warnock declined to give the midfielder a squad number for the club’s first season back in the top flight.