ARMENIA v REPUBLIC OF IRELAND:THE EARLY stages of Giovanni Trapattoni's preparations for Ireland's opening game of the 2012 European Championship campaign looked set to be over shadowed by the tail end of the English transfer window.

Yesterday, the Italian acknowledged he might have to allow one or more of his players to return to Britain today to complete moves to new clubs.

With Damien Duff (calf) and Keith Treacy (groin) pulling out of the squad yesterday, at least for the Armenia game on Friday, Keith Andrews already gone and doubts about the fitness of Paul McShane and Aiden McGeady, Trapattoni could probably do without the distraction.

But he admitted after training that at least one of his squad is likely to make a mad dash back.

“Maybe if they need to sign it’s okay,” remarked the Italian. “If there is the opportunity, sure, we will give them 20 hours to go sign and come back. For Robbie, I think no chance. Maybe Shay, but if Shay listens to me he will stay where he is. He will have the great opportunities again at his club.”

Despite having tried to persuade Given to stay at Eastlands, Trapattoni said the goalkeeper was still seriously mulling over a move to Fulham. The Donegalman apparently told him he had 24 hours to make a decision.

Pressed later on whether he felt Given would go through with the switch, the manager said: “I think that if Shay thinks that he will play all of the time then he will go.”

Clearly, that aspect of the deal would appeal to the Irishman who has been frustrated by losing his place in the Manchester City team to Joe Hart. His arrival at Craven Cottage would allow Fulham to sell Mark Schwarzer to Arsenal.

As of yesterday afternoon, however, City officials anxious to avoid a repeat of the goalkeeping crisis that arose when the Irishman injured his shoulder two weeks before the end of the campaign were confident they had persuaded Given to stay put.

Given has met Roberto Mancini and senior club administrator Brian Marwood in recent days and apparently received assurances he will get first-team games this year.

The pair are said to have persuaded Given that, at the very least, Hart will be rested for some games as the club is determined to pursue every available trophy and could not expect the Englishman to play all of the time.

Then, of course, there is the possibility Hart could get injured or that Given could simply reclaim the jersey he wore last year while his rival was on loan at Birmingham City.

While Given’s future remains uncertain, though, Liam Lawrence looks set to join Portsmouth today as part of a deal that will involve Dave Kitson going the same way and Ireland international Marc Wilson moving in the opposite direction.

Lawrence had expected to be heading to Celtic once McGeady departed the Scottish club, but with that having failed to materialise, the midfielder is apparently willing to drop down a division in England in the hope of securing regular first-team football.

Whatever about his club situation, Lawrence looks a certain starter for Ireland in Yerevan this Friday as the various withdrawals over the past couple of days, combined with Stephen Hunt’s long-term absence, have severely restricted Trapattoni’s options.

Asked whom he would turn to on the left flank if McGeady, who hasn’t played a competitive game since May, fails to shake off a minor ankle problem, the manager talked confidently about Andy Keogh and Keith Fahey.

For all his apparent problems, Trapattoni was in confident mood about the opening two games of the campaign. Andorra at home next Tuesday should, of course, yield three points, but the trip to Armenia is clearly that bit trickier.

Yet, the Italian was emphatic when asked if he would settle for the point his side took away from Montenegro during the last campaign. “I’d be lying if I said yes,” he replied. “I think we can do better than that.”

Armenia’s last campaign would suggest the game is winnable. They took just four points overall, although they did surprise the Belgians 2-1 in Yerevan.

Their record during the previous World Cup campaign, however, provides evidence of their ability to pose serious problems even for decent opposition on home soil, with draws against Serbia, Portugal and Finland as well as a 1-0 win over Poland.

At the start of the year, they appointed a highly successful local club manager, Vardan Minasyan, to succeed Denmark’s Jan Poulsen in the manager’s job, and the new man has sought to bring through a new generation of talented players, including Henrikh Mkhitaryan, a gifted 21-year-old who can play as an attacking midfielder or striker, scored a hat-trick against the Irish under-21s last year and yesterday joined Shaktar Donetsk for €6 million.

Trapattoni admitted he was not familiar with the youngster, but acknowledged the challenge that the Armenians have the capacity to pose on their turf.

Despite that, the Italian remains upbeat about taking six points out of six by the middle of next week.

He’ll be glad to see the back of the transfer window, though, and relieved if he makes it to Yerevan without losing more midfielders.