IRELAND SKIPPER JOHN O’SHEA was yesterday informed that Wes Hoolahan chose his confirmation name based on his favourite Man Utd player rather than saint.
The Norwich City playmaker lines out behind Shane Long in a 4-4-1-1 formation for the friendly at Cardiff City Stadium. And O’Shea agrees Ireland need more creative men in green who pray to Eric Cantona every night.
“He’s obviously developed internationally later in his career,” the stand-in captain told the press yesterday. “But it’s been for the benefit of us really and obviously the manager has been slowly introducing more so into the team as well.
“We’re fully aware of his talent because the players have seen it, the manager has seen it in the Premier League and on training ground every so hopefully he’s going to be a vital player for us when we come to the vital stages of qualification. The more players we can have attacking wise and creating wise , it’s going to be of huge benefit to us in the future.”
Giovanni Trapattoni will run the rule over his players tonight with the World cup qualifiers against Sweden and Austria next month very much in his mind.
“Every team hopes for those players to have a good supply of them,” says the Sunderland defender, “whether it be goal scorers, creative players, there’s been a fair general supply of defenders, full backs and stuff like that but we need a supply of forwards too. So if we can do that, it increases the competition.
“As a bit of a taller player, he’s a bit of a nightmare [to play against]. But he’s a tough little bugger as well, he’s not afraid to take a few knocks. and that’s obviously what you need in that situation.
“The manager will be looking for him to support Shane Long tonight when he can but also to help out in midfield too and more importantly when we don’t have the ball to find the little pockets to supply Robbie Brady and Jon Walters. And he’s well able to score a goal as well.”
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