Givens is confident

With a couple of disappointing friendlies and the rather dismal showing in Toulon to show for his first five games in international football, Don Givens insists that he is confident that things can start to improve for his Republic of Ireland under-21 side in Nijimegan this evening.

The Ireland manager has close to his best squad available to him and there is a renewed sense of optimism in the party following the recent 2-0 defeat of Arsenal on a training game at Bisham Abbey.

"For a lot of people that was an insignificant match, but, for me, it was very important," said Givens yesterday. "It was the first time that I saw the lads play the way I really wanted them to.

"They showed that they were capable of keeping possession, which is a difficult adjustment for some of them given the temptation to hoof it a bit, and they were rewarded with a win in which they had 75 per cent of the possession against a side with a few half decent players."

Crystal Palace striker Stephen Hunt, who along with Gary Doherty, scored against Arsenal, is reckoned to be short of match fitness and will probably start on the bench while Andy O'Brien is missing due to his broker collarbone.

Otherwise, though, it's a relatively strong panel with the manager boosted, in particular, by the return of Middlesbrough centre half Jason Gavin, who missed the trip to France through injury.

He is likely to be partnered by Manchester United's John O'Shea in central defence, with Aston Villa's John McGrath expected to start ahead of Richie Partridge wide in midfield.

Gary Doherty is certain to lead the attack and the main doubt is whether Graham Barrett - injured in a pre-season tour of Germany - or Michael Reddy will play alongside the Tottenham striker.

Dutch coach Mark Wotte has selected a fairly young squad for the game, but there is some experience, especially at the back, where Peter Wisgerhof of NEC, PSV's Kevin Hofland and Pascal Bosschaart of Utrecht are all well established at this level.

IRELAND (probable): Murphy (Tranmere Rovers); Healy (Celtic), Gavin (Middlesbrough), O'Shea (Manchester United), Clarke (Stoke City); A Quinn (Sheffield Wednesday), O'Connor (Stoke City), B Quinn (Coventry City) capt, McGrath (Aston Villa); Reddy (Sunderland) or Barrett (Arsenal), Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur).