SOME MAY HAVE viewed it as a pointless friendly, but for Richard Dunne and Wes Hoolahan, yesterday’s win over Georgia looks to have earned them spots in the starting XI for the World Cup qualifier against the Faroes Islands.
In front of an extremely small crowd at the Aviva Stadium, Ireland comfortably saw off the visitors, who had their goalkeeper Giorgi Loria sent off in the first half, thanks to goals Richard Keogh, Robbie Keane (2) and Simon Cox.
Friday sees Giovanni Trapattoni’s men play their only competitive fixture of the four-game schedule as Group C’s whipping boys the Faroe Islands arrive in Dublin.
After months of fans calling for Norwich playmaker Hoolahan’s inclusion in the team, Trap named him alongside James McCarthy in midfield and he came up with a number of telling passes before being taken off for debutant Stephen Quinn on 75 minutes.
When asked if Hoolahan would retain his place in the team at his media briefing in Malahide today, Trap said: “90% yes. We have no training today. After tomorrow we can also put things in place more.
“In Hoolahan there is the player who is clever and intelligent. I know before that he can do this. When you asked me about Hoolahan before I said his age is 30 years, we start a new generation for the next season.
“I said also maybe I ignored this a little bit. We achieved the qualification with Gibson, Whelan, Andrews.”
Dunne made his first appearance in a year when he was introduced on the 65-minute mark and was glad to be finally putting his nightmare run of injuries behind him.
Playing the defender, who is currently without a club, from the start could be a bit of a risk but the Italian believes he is ready.
I said probably yesterday but after this performance I saw him training well also. I think about the Faroe Islands he will be 90% on the pitch.
“Today I don’t see them and I am not a magician. When he comes back I will call him. Maybe two or three will come back after the day off and will have had an accident,” he joked, while explaining that he will evaluate the fitness of his squad tomorrow.
“I can’t say now 100% yes, (but) 90% yes. When they will be here I can be clear.”
Reporting by Niall Kelly
