INTERNATIONAL:GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI has confirmed that Shay Given will not be fit for the Republic of Ireland's European Championship qualifier against Macedonia in Dublin next month but revealed that Robbie Keane remains hopeful of being available for the game.
Given picked up his injury in Greece last week and Roberto Mancini said on Sunday that the Irishman will see a specialist in London this week to determine whether surgery is required to repair what is believed to be a second dislocation of his left shoulder.
“I am disappointed that Shay will not be able make it in for the Macedonia qualifier due to a shoulder injury,” said Trapattoni yesterday.
“Shay’s presence in the squad has always been extremely important and he will certainly be missed. That said, we have good options in Keiren Westwood and Joe Murphy.”
The Italian will be hoping that the news from City’s medical team is good, but the fear is that if Given’s problem is a repeat of the injury he sustained against Arsenal towards the end of last season, then he will be out until the end of the season.
It will, most likely, also rule him out of the Republic of Ireland’s Carling Nations Cup games against Northern Ireland in late May and, far more importantly, the return game against Macedonia in early June.
In the meantime, Trapattoni is likely to be keeping an anxious eye on Westwood whose club, Coventry City, has seven Championship games scheduled for between now and the international break, during which the Republic of Ireland will also face Uruguay in a friendly.
The Ireland manager has essentially signalled that Joe Murphy will retain his place in the squad, assuming he has fully recovered from the ankle and groin problems that have sidelined him for the last few weeks. However, it is not certain that the Dubliner will reclaim his place in the Scunthorpe side and it remains to be seen who Trapattoni will look to as his third choice, with Colin Doyle, Paddy Kenny and, if he is fit again, Brian Murphy amongst the options.
It is four years since anyone other than Given played in goal for Ireland in a competitive match but Wayne Henderson, who featured in February 2007 away to San Marino, has not seen any first-team action for his club, Preston North End, this season.
In relation to Robbie Keane’s calf strain, Trapattoni was more upbeat yesterday: “I have been in touch with Robbie and he is hopeful that he can be back in time for the Macedonia game which we will very much welcome,” he said. “He is doing everything he can to get fit and we will continue to monitor his progress closely.”
West Ham, in fact, estimated Keane’s return to be “at least two to four weeks away,” yesterday making his availability for the Ireland games a close run thing, but the club is reported to be working particularly hard on getting the Dubliner back as they see him as playing a crucial role in their battle for Premier League survival in the remaining games of the campaign.
