Soccer: The prospect of Kevin Doyle facing Slovakia in the Republic of Ireland's next Euro 2012 qualifier took a turn for the better this afternoon when his club manager Mick McCarthy delivered the most positive prognosis to date.
On Tuesday, the striker pulled out of the Ireland squad to face Croatia in a friendly last night after suffering a recurrence of a knee ligament injury that has hampered him since March. Trapattoni was less than optimistic on his fitness when speaking after the 0-0 draw at the Aviva Stadium but this morning included him in the preliminary 32-man squad for the crucial games against Slovakia on September 2nd and Russia in Moscow four days later.
The news got better this afternoon when McCarthy said the former Reading striker was odds on to play for Wolves in their season opener against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Saturday.
"Doyler just felt something but there's every possibility he will play," said the former Ireland manager. "Yesterday he was 70-30 in favour of playing and I'm hoping that's gone to 90-10 today.
"He felt a bit more aware of it because it was his knee and he'd missed games at the end of last season. He just had a kick on Saturday and it was something from that that flared up, nothing sinister or serious, so hopefully he'll play."
Trapattoni has left nothing to chance, naming the exact same squad he initially chose in mid-July for the game against the Croats. It will be trimmed closer to the visit of Slovakia but, for now, he has left himself plenty of room for manoeuvre.
Keith Andrews, Keith Fahey, John O’Shea, Marc Wilson, Jonathan Walters, Damien Delaney, Kevin Foley, Seamus Coleman, Aiden McGeady, James McCarthy and Paul McShane are all included after withdrawing from the Croatia game through injuries at one stage or another.
Portsmouth’s Liam Lawrence and Derby County’s on loan defender Kevin Kilbane also return after being allowed to focus on their clubs’ season openers.
It appears the latter, a 110-cap veteran, is being pushed pretty hard by Stephen Ward for the starting berth at left-back against the Slovaks. Asked lat night if Ward had done enough to justify a selection next month, Trapattoni said: “Yes, I think so, because he showed good personality against a very dangerous opponent.
“Particularly in the first half, he played very well. I think after this test, he has confirmed we can have trust in him.”
Ward showed his versatility by moving into a more advanced role later in the match, something Trapattoni was well aware he could call upon the 25-year-old to do.
“We followed him last season and for his club he played in midfield,” Trapattoni said. “I already had an idea about him in this position and when Glenn Whelan picked up a bit of an injury, I could change it with him (Ward) in midfield. It did not change our play too much.”
Ireland Squad v Slovakia
Goalkeepers: Given, Westwood, Forde.
Defenders: O'Shea, Coleman, McShane, Foley, Kelly, Ward, Dunne, Clark, St. Ledger, O'Dea, Delane, Kilbane.
Midfielders: Whelan, Gibson, Andrews, Fahey, Keogh, Duff, McGeady, Hunt, Lawrence, McCarthy, Treacy, Wilson.
Forwards: Keane, Doyle, Cox, Walters, Long.
