SOCCER:IN A variation of the old adage about taking two steps forward and one step back, Giovanni Trapattoni will give a couple of players, with the potential to be central figures in future Republic of Ireland teams, their senior debuts against Wales tonight while running the risk of alienating a third by questioning his commitment to the cause.

Séamus Coleman and Ciarán Clark were named yesterday in a side that also includes Jonathan Walters and Kevin Doyle in attack and, most likely, Darron Gibson alongside Glenn Whelan in central midfield. However, it was the absence of James McCarthy that dominated a pre-match press conference which ended, like so many before, with little certainty about what exactly it was that Trapattoni was saying.

The manager was quizzed early on about the withdrawal from the squad of McCarthy, who has scored three goals in four games for Wigan since returning from a three-month injury lay-off and, not for the first time, he didn't sound like a man who was entirely convinced that the young midfielder was really injured.

Trapattoni said he had spoken to Wigan boss Roberto Martinez who had apparently assured him neither he nor the club had prevented the player from travelling. He then appeared to suggest the Spaniard had said the player was injured and that he accepted the fact.

However, his subsequent comments gave the distinct impression he regards the 20-year-old as lacking the desired level of enthusiasm to establish himself in the Irish set-up.

"I only want to have players with the right mentality," said Trapattoni. "When a player says; 'I will be here to play', it's important. There is also the fact of his age; he is 20 and I am patient so I allow him decide calmly and he must be sure that he is available for the national team. I think that is very important for us."

Trapattoni admitted he had not spoken to the player, who declared for Ireland in his mid-teens having been born in Scotland, but only to his club manager. He joked that he had spoken to Stephen Ireland but that only made matters worse and referred to talks with the father of another player (Andy O'Brien) and the agent of a third (most likely Dutch-born Barry Maguire), neither of which had produced the desired results.

Rather surprisingly, however, the Italian then admitted to not having a number for McCarthy and indicated he had not in fact spoken to him since last summer when McCarthy came to Dublin to speak with the manager after Wigan had requested he be omitted from the squad for the games against Paraguay and Algeria as he needed rest after a long season.

"I haven't a number," he said, "but in the summer when we asked him if he was tired, injured and I spoke with Martinez because it's better to speak with the manager first. The players have limited responsibilities because there are also clubs who decide whether you can go."

Whoever is to blame, the fact is despite his vast promise he has not played for Ireland since making his debut against Brazil this time last year. That has given rise more than once to speculation McCarthy is about to change his mind about not playing for Scotland.

However, this appears to be unfounded and it does seem the player is anxious to recover from a recent ankle injury in time to play at Liverpool this weekend.

Not for the first time, even in the past week, the lack of direct communication between Trapattoni and his players appears to be at the heart of the issue.

Shay Given questioned whether McCarthy's withdrawal might be the sign of changing attitudes amongst young players. But the goalkeeper quickly acknowledged he really didn't know what was going on with the midfielder.

Whether tonight's game has the same potential for importance to the Irish cause is open to question, but barring a late change of plan on Trapattoni's part it will at least be remembered for the debuts of Coleman, Clark and perhaps Marc Wilson.

Welsh manager Gary Speed will also have a few young players involved having lost the likes of Craig Bellamy and Danny Gabbidon over the last few days. Sadly Aaron Ramsey is also out, depriving supporters of seeing a potential Wales star of the future.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Given (Manchester City); O'Shea (Manchester United), Dunne (Aston Villa), St Ledger (Preston North End, Clark (Aston Villa); Coleman (Everton), Whelan (Stoke City), Gibson (Manchester United), Green (Derby County), Duff (Fulham); Walters (Stoke City), Doyle (Wolves)

WALES: Hennessy (Wolves); Eardlsey (Blackpool), J Collins (Aston Villa), D Collins (Stoke City), Ricketts (Bolton Wanderers); Vaughan (Blackpool), Crofts (Norwich City), King (Leicester City); Church (Reading), Earnshaw (Nottingham Forest), Robson-Kanu (Reading).

Referee: E Shanks (Northern Ireland).