SOCCER/ Euro 2008 qualfiying countdown:  As Stephen Staunton prepares to name his squad on Monday for the opening game of the European Championship in Stuttgart in a couple of weeks' time, Kevin Kilbane has conceded that the Ireland manager may not have enough time with his players in the run-up to the game to address all of the shortcomings displayed in Wednesday night's drubbing by the Dutch.

"I feel we need at least four or five days before a big international like that," observed the 29-year-old, as he considered Ireland's prospects in what will be the team's first competitive outing in almost a year.

"It's going to be difficult because we'll have a lot of work to do in the three training sessions before the game but we certainly have to improve, be more positive, a lot brighter. And hopefully we'll also be sharper, although we can't use that as an excuse for what happened against Holland because we were just played off the park."

The Everton midfielder, who again had a stint in the Irish defence on Wednesday night, also suggested that the players are still struggling to get to grips with what is being asked of them by the new manager.

While insisting that Staunton is liked and respected by the squad's members he appeared to disagree with the Louthman's assertion during the build-up to this week's game that the "the penny's dropped, the lads are beginning to understand what we're looking for from them and they're enjoying it".

"Judging by last night I don't think we have taken things on board," remarked Kilbane.

"We've clearly got a lot to learn. Myself and the other experienced lads have to help more the young lads who came in because I don't think we did that. We were left exposed, and we left them exposed."

Kilbane went on to admit that the 4-0 defeat had been somewhat humiliating to be a part of.

"It was a bit of an embarrassment, all right," he said. "We didn't have any possession, didn't put any tackles in, didn't close them down. We just gave them the whole pitch to play with.

"They played free-flowing football, but that's because we gave them too much time and space and as we were the home team, that is not on. We allowed them to do what they wanted, and the fact they could have had three or four more (goals) is very disappointing.

"We had players out, but that's no excuse," he concluded. "It's 11 versus 11 at the end of the day, so there's not much we can take from the game. We simply have to learn from it - that we can't expose ourselves like that to a team of their quality."

Having the players who missed Wednesday's game back for the German trip would be a major boost to Staunton and most seem set to be included in the squad for the game on Monday even if he is less than certain at present of their availability.

Steve Carr (hamstring) is a doubt for the game but Steven Reid said yesterday he expects the ankle problem he picked up during Wednesday's game to clear up quickly and he my even be fit in time to play in the opening game of Blackburn's premiership campaign, at Portsmouth tomorrow.

Shay Given and Damien Duff also seem likely to play for Newcastle over the weekend although reserve goalkeeper Steve Harper yesterday confirmed that he was on stand-by.

There is less confidence about Robbie Keane and Richard Dunne, with the Tottenham striker still said to be struggling with a groin strain and the Manchester City defender now believed to have damaged both hamstrings, a problem that seriously threatens to keep him out of the Stuttgart game.

If Wednesday is anything to go by Dunne would be badly missed, for the Irish defended abysmally against the Dutch, allowing them to push the ball about at will in and around the Irish area and failing even to defend set pieces with conviction.

Staunton will hope, meanwhile, that most of the players will benefit from getting a couple of competitive club games under their belts over the next 10 days while he will get the opportunity to reflect on the strategy and tactics adopted this week.

John O'Shea, Andy O'Brien and Graham Kavanagh all looked off the pace of the game on Wednesday but there were clearly problems too as those on the Irish bench sought to counter the strengths of the Dutch side by making changes from the sidelines.

It remains to be seen whether Bobby Robson will be well enough to play any part in the German game and given his ongoing health problems a decision may have to be taken regarding his future, for the evidence from Lansdowne Road on Wednesday night would tend to suggest that Staunton could do with the type of advice and expertise Robson was hired to provide being available sooner rather than later.