SOCCER REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD: BLACKBURN MIDFIELDER Steven Reid is on course to return to the Ireland team for the World Cup qualifier against Italy on October 10th in Croke Park, according to Giovanni Trapattoni.

The 28-year-old’s return would provide an important boost to the Republic for a game the veteran manager still insists his side must view as a springboard to the group’s top spot and a guaranteed place in South Africa next summer.

Trapattoni, who was at Thomond Park yesterday morning to announce his squad for the friendly international against Australia on Wednesday August 12th, said he has been encouraged by Reid’s return to training at Ewood Park and his steady progress since.

But, he said, he cautioned the player against risking a further spell on the sidelines by trying to return too quickly.

“At the moment he is only training and it’s important for him not to force things by coming back early,” he said. “It would be very dangerous and I told him to take things slowly.”

Reid, like Steve Finnan, has been omitted from the squad for the Australia game but unlike the full back is on a three-man standby list along with Alex Bruce and Damien Delaney.

Trapattoni does not anticipate him featuring in the World Cup game away to Cyprus on September 5th, however, with the midfielder said to be on course for a full return to international action at the start of October instead.

“We must see but for Cyprus, I think no,” said Trapattoni. “But for the second and third games in October, I think yes.”

With Ireland having maintained their five-point advantage over Bulgaria in June and Italy subsequently performing poorly at the Confederations Cup, Trapattoni was particularly upbeat about the clash against Italy at Croke Park, insisting his side must go into the game believing they can secure the win that is likely to be required if they are to overtake the world champions at the top of the table.

“Italy, at the moment, are finding it a little bit difficult,” he said. “The champions’ players are a little bit tired or injured, they are not at the top (of their game). The Confederations Cup showed us . . . The United States might have won it if they had a little more experience. So we have to remember, football is about 90 minutes and at home . . . Why not?

“We have to show the same spirit as in Bari. We have to play at the same level. Sure, it was 10 against 11 but we played well against the champions and had some great chances.

“But,” he cautioned, “every game is important now. We need to have 100 per cent concentration all of the time because it is also important in the next game not to make a little mistake – like the own goal against Bulgaria.”

Trapattoni talked up the importance of the Australia game and expressed the hope his players might draw inspiration from the success of the Munster rugby team in recent years in much the same way, he suggested, as he looked to provide the Italian team with inspiration when he managed them by seeking to bring important games to Milan.

The squad he named yesterday provided evidence, if any was really required, that he is intent on picking up precisely where he left off at the start of June. Eddie Nolan, Liam Lawrence and Sean St Ledger retain their places after making debuts against Nigeria and all, the manager made clear, are likely to get chances to play.

Kevin Doyle is among the list of 24 players but, says the manager, the newly signed Wolves striker is a significant doubt having recently undergone surgery for a hernia. “It is not a problem,” he said. “We still have a month before Cyprus.”

Noel Hunt misses out because, says the manager, the foot injury he picked up at the end of last season has healed more slowly than hoped, while Paul McShane is the other main absentee because of injury.

Trapattoni, meanwhile, said his preference would be to have his own future, beyond the current qualification campaign, sorted out before the end of the year but acknowledged that despite apparent interest from club sides abroad, it is up to the FAI to progress the matter as they see fit.

There had been reports that Trapattoni’s advisers had travelled to Dublin some weeks ago to negotiate an extension to his current deal but the 70-year-old gave the firm impression yesterday that no talks of any significance have taken place about the possibility of him staying on.

“I don’t want to force the situation,” he said, “but if they want to talk it is possible, (although) I am happy too to focus on the job and I don’t want to be distracted by other issues.”

A number of informal approaches have, he said, been made to him about possible alternatives should he not stay in the Ireland job but nothing, he suggested, that would require him to inform the association.

“I know a lot of people in football and they speak to me, saying you can go here, you can go there but it’s not important until qualification is decided. I promised the FAI loyalty, that when I talk to anybody else, I will telephone them.”

Money, he insisted, is not an issue.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD: Given (Manchester City), Westwood (Coventry City), Murphy (Scunthorpe United); O'Shea (Manchester United), Foley (Wolves), Dunne (Manchester City), Kelly (Fulham), Kilbane (Hull City), Nolan, St Ledger (both Preston NE); McGeady (Celtic), Duff (Newcastle United), Gibson (Manchester United), Whelan (Stoke City), Andrews (Blackburn Rovers), Miller (Unattached), S Hunt (Reading), Keogh (Wolves), Lawrence (Stoke City); Folan (Hull City), Doyle (Wolves), Keane (Tottenham Hotspur), Long (Reading), Best (Coventry City).