SOCCER:ANDY REID returned to Sunderland rather than fly to the Algarve yesterday as he was forced to pull out of the Ireland squad's six-day training camp after picking up a hamstring problem in his first run-out with Giovanni Trapattoni on Thursday night.

The 25-year-old Dubliner returned to his club for treatment, and the manager seemed resigned yesterday to the midfielder missing the forthcoming games against Serbia and Colombia.

Birmingham City's Colin Doyle will also miss the trip to Portugal and looks set for a spell on the sidelines after pulling out of training at Malahide yesterday morning with a swollen knee.

Trapattoni said the problem was "nothing serious" and pointed to the fact that with Dean Kiely back the squad would still travel with a highly experienced goalkeeper.

With Seán Scannell having joined the travelling party after Crystal Palace's Championship play-off defeat, it means the new manager headed off with 20 players. Stephen McPhail, who plays in today's FA Cup final, is due to join up with the group later, most likely on Monday.

The Irish will play two games against local sides while in Portugal, the first tomorrow morning and the second on Monday evening, both near their Lagos base.

"It's two games in two days," said Trapattoni. "But one team maybe plays an hour and then the other a half an hour. Then the next day, we will do it the other way around."

The loss of Reid leaves just one player, Damien Duff, with more than 20 caps, but the veteran Italian, who was accompanied on the training pitch yesterday by all of his management team, again insisted he was unconcerned by the absence of so many experienced players from the trip.

"We have the younger players but it's good - we need the young players," he said.

"It's early but after the friendly games in Portugal I will be clearer on the quality of these players. After that, against Serbia and Colombia, we will be stronger. (John) O'Shea will come back, also Robbie (Keane), maybe (Richard)Dunne.

"But I'm happy. I know the players and I'm happy. Of course, we need more time but I think that in 10 days we'll be ready to play against Serbia and Colombia."

Asked if anyone had caught his eye in training, he said, "I've seen them play (before), even the ones who played only in America. I've seen the DVDs of those games. So there have been no surprises."

He went on to give honourable mentioned to Stoke City's Glenn Whelan, Andy Keogh of Wolves and the QPR defender Damien Delaney.

The former Italy and Juventus boss conceded the main problem during the first two sessions of his tenure had been getting players to adopt the more measured tempo he desired, but he added it was not the worst possible complaint.

"I say to them to go quiet," he grinned. "Instead, they want to go all the time at 100 per cent. But their willingness to play is very good, so I'm happy."

The amount of work to be undertaken in Portugal will be decided pretty much day by day. Some of the squad are more tired than others but the weather is unlikely to hinder their efforts, the forecast being for moderate warmth the next few days.

As Trapattoni spoke, Liam Brady was in the background, co-ordinating the players' return to the hotel and chatting with Marco Tardelli and FAI officials.

"He's important," said the manager. "The squad is normally 22, 23 or 25 and he helps me to tell them what I want. I show them and the young players they understand with time.

"To show them what I want is important but Liam understands the young players better. He uses the right words and Liam was in Italy with me so he understands what I want of the players."

Whether the players understand or, for that matter, have the capacity to deliver, is about to start becoming apparent.