SOCCER INTERNATIONAL NEWS:WHILE A handful of Irish players at yesterday's warm-down session wondered what wheels might be turning their way on the transfer merry-go-round in England, a couple of those Giovanni Trapattoni left at home this week seem to have used the free time to sort out their club futures.

Having pondered a move to Celtic after being released by Blackburn, Steven Reid has instead confirmed his return to the Premier League by signing a two-year deal with West Brom where he enjoyed a successful loan spell towards the end of the season.

Roberto Di Matteo hailed the impact the 29-year-old international had made “both on and off the pitch,” and predicted the experience he will bring to the team as they look to survive a first year back in the top flight could prove “invaluable”.

Goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, who has repeatedly expressed his desire to get another crack at international football with Ireland, is the subject of a bid from his old boss Neil Warnock, now at QPR.

The Londoners have bid around €1 million for the Sheffield United man, who recently returned from a nine-month ban. The offer is apparently enough to trigger a release clause in his contract and his manager, Kevin Blackwell, is said to be keen to hold talks with the player.

Back at Malahide, meanwhile, with Paul McShane having departed the squad in order to be at his sister’s wedding, the man who has assumed the role Kenny briefly enjoyed as primary cover for Shay Given, was insisting transfer talk was the last thing on his mind as he prepares to earn a fifth senior cap in the game against Algeria tomorrow night.

Keiren Westwood has been linked with a number of possible moves over the last few weeks, with Sunderland the club most recently associated with a move for the 25-year-old as Steve Bruce looks to provide competition for established number one, Craig Gordon.

New Coventry City boss Aidy Boothroyd is reportedly anxious to keep his man, though, and Westwood insisted this week’s international games are more than enough to keep him occupied.

“I can’t do anything about speculation and I suppose the club can’t do anything about it either,” he said.

“Maybe it’s just a little feather in your cap that you are doing well and people are speaking about you, but there are no bids, there’s nothing like that.

“I am 25 years old and I have been playing first team football since I was maybe 19. I have played a lot of games and I am delighted with how it has gone, really.

“I have gone from being at a big club like Man City and getting released at 18, 19 to the Conference with Carlisle and working my way back up.

“I am happy where I am, but it is about progression and I need to keep going. I won’t rest on my laurels now.

“This week is good. I am in the Championship, and it’s great to play against these players. It’s a lot different.”

Westwood, like the majority of Tuesday night’s starters, is set to retain his place tomorrow evening against Algeria, but McShane’s departure will oblige Trapattoni to make at least one change to the side that beat the Paraguayans 2-1.

Greg Cunningham and Darren O’Dea are both contenders to come into the Italian’s back four but speaking after training yesterday, assistant coach Marco Tardelli didn’t sound like a man that expected to see either feature from the start.

That would leave Kevin Foley as the most likely replacement, although it will take a little bit of a reshuffle, with John O’Shea possibly moving into the heart of the defence and Stephen Kelly replacing him at left back so Foley could slot in on the right.

It would be a welcome opportunity, almost a year to the day after his debut, for Foley to impress, having failed to make the desired impact in the 1-1 draw with Nigeria at Craven Cottage.

The Wolves defender had a disappointing night and was replaced by McShane during the second half, with Trapattoni’s comments afterwards suggesting he did not think the then 24-year-old was quite ready for the step up.

Keane was one of three Ireland players carrying slight injuries yesterday. The striker took a knock during Tuesday’s game, while Liam Lawrence has a groin strain and Anthony Stokes was said to be suffering from an allergy. However, all are expected to be available for selection when Trapattoni names his team for tomorrow’s game.