Rep of Ireland v Israel, Lansdowne Road, Saturday, kick-off 7.30: Steve Finnan's chances of featuring in Saturday's game against Israel hovered only fractionally above the zero mark last night after the 29-year-old returned to Liverpool for further treatment on the thigh strain that has been troubling him since before the Champions League final. Emmet Malone, Soccer correspondent reports.
Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr stopped short of ruling the right back out of the crucial Group Four game but did admit he doesn't think the defender will be fit it time. "I suppose he still has a chance," was as close to upbeat as the manager was about the situation before going on to say "it was important that they get the chance back at Liverpool to have a look at him and see what they think.
"He has a lot to do between now and Saturday, though," he added ominously, "he's got to start running, jumping and kicking. We'll have a better idea about how he is tomorrow."
In anticipation of losing the Limerickman, Kerr switched John O'Shea out of the left-back position for yesterday's practice games and also continued to use Steven Reid at right back. He could still play either of them there and each option has its advantages.
O'Shea did well in the position earlier this season for Manchester United when Gary Neville was sidelined, but if he does switch sides then it would mean Ian Harte's return at left back. The former Leeds United player is no stranger to the position, and is better suited to the sort of attacking game that would be expected this weekend, but his fitness could be a concern given that he has not been playing for Levante in recent weeks.
Reid, on the other hand, has been playing, and playing well, for Blackburn through the latter part of the season, but in central midfield. While selecting him would mean one less change to what has been a fairly settled defence, the 24-year-old has not played on the right of a back four since his time at Millwall.
Kerr, in any case, played down the issue, insisting that players with any defensive experience still in the squad have played right back at some stage. "They've all played there at some stage for their clubs," he said, "John O'Shea, Kenny Cunningham, Steven Reid, Gary Doherty, Andy O'Brien, Ian Harte, even Matt Holland had a bit of time there."
At this point Robbie Keane, who was sitting next to the Ireland manager turned and informed the manager that he, too, had had an outing or two at right back during his Crumlin United days. It wasn't the sort of fact that usually escapes Kerr about a player of Keane's generation, but he looked fairly thrilled by the information anyway.
Ireland's training was generally uneventful otherwise with a knee injury suffered by Gary Doherty the only incident of real significance during the session.
Doherty was forced to limp out of the proceedings, but subsequently expressed confidence he would be fit enough to feature in the game if required, with the Norwich player observing that the initial treatment he had received for a knee injury picked up in training yesterday had had an immediately beneficial effect.
"I just sort of jarred the knee," he said, "but I think I'm going to be fine. I've had a bit of treatment for it already and it's gone well, it's feeling much better again."
With Kerr a little short of defenders and potentially facing the need to change things up front over the course of the game, Doherty could well come into things over the course of the second half despite having played little competitive football since losing his place at Norwich.
"That was a blow, but there's a responsibility on you when it happens to keep yourself right for games like this and I feel good now," he said. "I suppose now it's a question of seeing what way the game pans out, but if I'm called upon I'll be ready.
"It (coming on late in a striking role) was something that worked out well for me before and if that's what's required of me in this game, then I'll certainly be happy to give it my best."
The Israelis, meanwhile, continued their preparations at the Five Lakes resort near Colchester yesterday where a few of the players could have been forgiven for growing distracted by the mounting rumours of impending moves to Premiership clubs.
For Yossi Benayoun such talk is nothing new, the 24-year-old midfielder has repeatedly been linked with a string of English sides over the past couple of seasons, but it appears that Newcastle are now seriously keen on the Racing Santander player and Graeme Souness is expected to be at Lansdowne Road on Saturday to watch him in action.
Also due to attend the game is Portsmouth boss Alain Perrin who will be looking out for the visiting side's striker, Yaniv Katan, himself a target for Newcastle a couple of months back.
Dudu Awat, the goalkeeper who played against Ireland in Tel Aviv, picked up an elbow injury in training yesterday, but insisted afterwards he would be recover in time to play if selected ahead of fit-again rival Nir Davidovitch. "It hurts but I'm sure the treatment will make me all right," he said. "There's no way I'm going to miss a match like this."
