Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr said today that John O'Shea was a 'realistic' alternative to fill the left back berth for Ireland's upcoming Euro 2004 qualifiers against Georgia and Albania following Ian Harte's withdrawal from the squad last night.
Kerr reported the Manchester United defender to be 'fine' following a kick to his hamstring during the first-half of his club's 3-0 Premiership win over Fulham at the weekend. The 22-year-old took full part in this morning's training session at Malahide United's impressive new complex.
"He got a kick on the hamstring on Saturday but their was no strain or tear," the manager explained. "He played the full match and was even sprinting at the end of the game when they were winning 3-0."
"There's a realistic possibility of him being played a left back. We have some options in that position and John is one of those. We haven't had a huge number of experienced left backs to pick from at senior level and its not such a problem for right footed players to play there and do very well."
Millwall winger Steven Reid and Steve Finnan of Fulham are both "real concerns" according to the manager and face the prospect of missing Saturday's clash with Georgia in Tbilisi. Both underwent hospital scans this morning, the full results of which won't be known until later today.
Kerr, however, confirmed that Finnan did indeed sustain a small fracture to a rib. Last night, the 26-year-old all but ruled himself out of Saturday's game and said he hoped to feature in some way in tomorrow week's clash with Albania in Tirana.
Reid, on the other hand, aggravated a long standing ankle problem following Millwall's game with Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday. Kerr was at the New Den to watch Reid bag two goals in a 3-0 win and said today the winger had some swelling around an ankle and Achilles tendon. Neither player took part in training.
Kerr said: "I saw him [Reid] playing on Saturday. After the match he felt a little sore in the ankle, he thought he had twisted it. He's had surgery on the same ankle earlier this season and it got sore on Sunday. Steven spoke to me on Sunday morning. I then spoke to his manager Mark McGhee and he was quite happy for him to come over and see how it went."
Irish team doctor, Martin Walsh, will update the manager on Reid and Finnan's condition tomorrow morning and only then will Kerr decide whether to include the duo in Thursday's travelling party.
Should they be ruled out, Kerr explained he was unlikely, at this stage, to call up further replacements. Richard Dunne, Alan Quinn, Alan Lee and Stephen McPhail have all joined the squad in the past 48 hours following injuries to Clinton Morrison (dislocated shoulder), Jason McAteer (hamstring), Gary Kelly (Hamstring, shin splints) and Ian Harte's late withdrawal for personal reasons.
"I wouldn't mind if we traveled with one or two less than the 23," said Kerr. "Once the balance of cover is right all around the pitch, that we've options for every position, I'll be happy enough. But we'll see how it goes with Stephen Reid and Steve Finnan, that's a real concern."
Tottenham duo Stephen Carr and Gary Doherty played in the 1-0 defeat to Bolton last night and were just put through the motions at training today. Carr did some light jogging while Doherty was restricted to walking laps of the pitch, nursing what appeared to be a minor back complaint.
Robbie Keane missed the session following the sad death of his father overnight.