SOCCER NEWS:SHAY GIVEN will continue to be assessed by specialists before he and the medical team at Manchester City make a final decision on whether the 34-year-old goalkeeper is to have surgery on the shoulder he dislocated against Arsenal on Saturday.
As of yesterday, when the player saw one consultant, it was still not known precisely how serious the problem is but it is hoped that after another expert assessment there will be enough information to make a final decision.
Giovanni Trapattoni appeared to fear the worst yesterday as he named his 23-man development squad for the training camp in Malahide next month, with the Italian suggesting Given would undergo surgery this week.
The manager insisted, however, he has faith in the Donegalman's would-be replacements, particularly Keiren Westwood, and that the team would simply have to hope for the best with regard to the speed of Given's return while getting on with the business of preparing for the European Championship qualifying campaign in the autumn.
Given has hinted previously that if Manchester City were to qualify for the Champions League then he might reassess his involvement with the Ireland set-up but Trapattoni maintained the goalkeeper would be back, even if he did not know when.
"Our job in the national team is to play maybe eight games in a year and qualify, that is not too much," he said. "It is important that he does not lose his confidence after the operation. He is not 23 or 24, he is experienced and that is important.
"Today or tomorrow he (Given) will need the operation. It is not easy but I think that he can come back. It may be a long time, I am not sure, three or four months, but his character is strong and we wait on Shay.
"I have confidence with Westwood. We follow him every Saturday and Sunday and watch him closely in training. He is not the biggest but he has a good personality.
"We have also Joe Murphy . . . We can trust them. But Shay is important. I think when he is fit . . . he has a strong mentality. I know his mentality. It is strong. I think when he is fit and ready he will not be able to refuse our national team."
Westwood and Murphy are among the players named in the squad for the training camp between May 16th and 23rd, a week that is likely to include one training game involving teams drawn from within the group and one against outside opposition, most likely from the English Championship.
There were a few surprises in the group of 23 he named with the likes of Paul McShane, Stephen Kelly and Andy Keogh bringing almost 40 senior caps between them to the table, while others like Wes Hoolahan and Daryl Murphy would appear to have been overlooked.
Séamus Coleman, on loan at Blackpool from Everton, was not included because he is likely to be involved in promotional play-offs with Championship side Blackpool.
His intentions with regard to the players who have not been named on this occasion may not be fully appreciated until he names the actual squad for the games against Algeria and Paraguay, around the 18th or 19th of next month.
He revealed yesterday Richard Dunne may miss the two games as he is playing for Aston Villa with an Achilles tendon problem which, he suggested, the club doctors would like to see rested as soon as the campaign ends. Keith Andrews is another doubt with a groin strain.
However, the reasons behind the absence of players like Hoolahan, who has been named in the League One team of the year, and Daryl Murphy, who has rediscovered his goal-scoring touch since joining Ipswich, went unexplained.
Trapattoni insisted, though, there were plenty of new players to get excited about and hailed the diversity of talents possessed by midfielders James McCarthy and David Meyler.
"Meyler," he said, "continues the game immediately by passing the ball. There is a lot of continuity in his game. He never stops. He moves the ball constantly. He is a very hard worker. McCarthy is different, he takes a moment and looks for a player maybe 20 or 30 metres ahead to find with a pass. Both are good and we need different types of players to develop: architects and workers."
Others are in the pipeline, he said, with work on securing international clearance for "two or three" English-born players to switch their allegiance already underway. Kyle Naughton, the Tottenham defender who has been on loan at Middlesbrough recently, he said, is one, while Jamie O'Hara, remains a possible recruit.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND DEVELOPMENT SQUAD:
Keiren Westwood (Coventry City) Age: 26, caps: 3, goals: 0; Joe Murphy (Scunthorpe United) 28, 1, 0; Brian Murphy (Ipswich Town) 26, 0, 0; Stephen Kelly (Fulham) 26, 16, 0; Eddie Nolan (Sheffield Wednesday) 21, 3, 0; Paul McShane (Hull City) 24, 20, 0; Shane Duffy (Everton) 18, 0, 0; Kevin Foley (Wolves) 25, 2, 0; Stephen Ward (Wolves) 24, 0, 0; Marc Wilson (Portsmouth) 22, 0, 0; Darren O'Dea (Celtic) 23, 1, 0; Keith Treacy (Preston North End) 21, 0, 0; Darron Gibson (Manchester United) 22, 9, 0; Andy Keogh (Wolves) 23, 13, 1; James McCarthy (Wigan) 19, 1, 0; Liam Lawrence (Stoke) 28, 6, 1; David Meyler (Sunderland) 20, 0, 0; Keith Fahey (Birmingham) 20, 0, 0; Paul Green (Derby County) 27, 0,,0; Caleb Folan (Hull City) 27, 7, 0; Leon Best (Newcastle United) 23, 7, 0; Shane Long (Reading) 23, 11, 3; Anthony Stokes (Hibernian ) 21, 3, 0.
New faces
Brian Murphy (20, Ipswich Town):Not the first call up for the Bohemians goalkeeper but one that confirms his growing status since his move to Ipswich at the end of last year's League of Ireland campaign. Has made 15 appearances for Roy Keane's side.
Shane Duffy (18, Everton):
Young Derry-born centre back who represented Northern Ireland at underage levels but declared for the Republic. Senior club experience limited to a couple of Europa League games but a well regarded prospect.
Stephen Ward (24, Wolves):A former Bohemians player, he has established himself at Wolves since moving there a couple of years back. Ward used to play up front, and can hold his own at full back or on the left side of midfield.
Marc Wilson (22, Portsmouth):The Northerner looks likely to pick up his first senior caps against Algeria and Paraguay. Has filled in at centre back at Portsmouth and has featured at full-back but looks most comfortable in midfield.
Keith Treacy (21, Preston):The Dublin-born left winger moved to Preston from Blackburn in January. He has settled well, scoring twice in 16 appearances.
David Meyler (20, Sunderland):The Cork midfielder has made quite an impact since making his senior debut for Sunderland a few months ago, although one red and four yellow cards in 11 appearances might give slightly the wrong impression.
Keith Fahey (27, Birmingham City):The former Drogheda United and St Patrick's Athletic midfielder's inclusion will be seen as overdue by many League of Ireland fans. He has played almost 40 times for Birmingham this season.
Paul Green (27, Derby County):A solid and industrious central midfielder. Came up through the divisions with Doncaster Rovers. English born, he qualifies through his maternal grandfather.
