INTERNATIONAL MATCH REPUBLIC OF IRELAND v NORWAY:HAVING SAT and chatted cheerily on Sunday evening about how good it was to be fully fit again, Steven Reid was "rested" for the Irish team's first training session in Oslo last night as a result of a knee injury.

It's at times like this folks, you get the sense in this game that your interviewees aren't being entirely open with you.

Reid, it turns out, got the kick to his knee on Sunday afternoon, something that didn't prompt him to stop training at the time but which, subsequently, became more of a cause for concern. Still, it seemed last night that the Blackburn midfielder will be fit to play tomorrow night with the squad's doctor, Alan Byrne, describing the decision to leave him out yesterday as "precautionary" and insisting that the expectation is that he will train today.

Though Giovanni Trapattoni says that he will wait until he is sure about Reid's availability before naming his starting XI for the game, yesterday's session at the city's Bislett stadium (the game will be at the larger Ullevaal) appeared to have provided significant pointers in every other area of the pitch.

The game that brought training to an end featured a side that looked very like his first-choice line-up. Shay Given was in goal, Steve Finnan, Richard Dunne, John O'Shea and Kevin Kilbane played across the back. Damien Duff and Aiden McGeady were on the wings while Kevin Doyle and Robbie Keane were up front together.

Central midfield looked to be still up in the air but it still seems likely that the two Reids will slot in there together in the event that Steven is available to start an international for the first time since the opening game of the last qualifying campaign in Stuttgart almost two years ago.

It's a long time to have been out, a good deal longer than Steve Finnan has been absent, and the Liverpool right back admitted that the fuss which has accompanied his return has been the source of some mirth among other squad members. "At least I've got Dean Kiely to give some stick to," he laughs. Finnan's return has been mentioned many times by Trapattoni as an important boost to the team as it prepares to get its qualification campaign under way at the start of next month and the player appeared happy to be involved again.

"It feels good to be back," he said with a slightly reluctant smile. "I suppose the chance of playing in another World Cup brought me back and when I met the manager I felt it was right," he said. "I had the summer to think about it. I liked what I heard from the manager. Obviously, he's got a lot of experience and the way he talked about certain things, he just persuaded me to come back. You always respect someone who has done well in management and, no matter what age you are, you can always learn from someone like that."

The general impression, of course, was that when Finnan decided to hang up his international boots it was to prolong his Liverpool career but that looks to have been more or less over since word went around that Rafael Benitez had sought to use the defender as a makeweight in the proposed Gareth Barry deal.

Now, Finnan says, he doesn't know where he figures in the Anfield boss's plans but he sounds like a man who would like to at least feel he was in with a chance of some first-team football.

"I haven't got a clue, to be honest with you," he says when asked about his current situation. "I've not played many games recently, there's a big squad there and everyone is fighting for their place. If I can just train well, I'll take my chance if I get it. I've spoken to Rafa Benitez about the situation but at this time I don't think I'll say too much more - you guys probably know more than me."

The transfer window gets a quick mention before the subject is changed and it's hard not to come away with the impression that Finnan's days on Merseyside may be over soon.

He brushes aside the suggestion that he will be playing tomorrow to catch the eye of another manager but readily concedes: "I need a game."

Trapattoni will be more than happy to oblige and would presumably be happy enough to see the 32-year-old move if it means he'll get some more games between now and the first of the qualifiers.