Anxious wait for McCarthy as Irish face selection cut

The Italian has indicated that the 23 men who board the plane for Poland in June will be drawn from those who helped the Republic qualify, and that could mean an anxious wait for the likes of James McCarthy and Seamus Coleman, who have had limited game time.

Trapattoni, speaking during an inspection tour of the facilities in Montecatini, Italy, where the Irish will hold their pre-tournament training camp, said: “We have 27 or 28 players and it will be a great pity, a great pity, when we have to decide on the 23, to decide on this player or that player.

“The squad is very important to me and they deserve to come with us, they helped us achieve qualification. But I have to decide which players deserve to come with us. I have two or three decisions to make. McCarthy, Coleman, players like that, I have to make a decision and I do not forget them for the next campaign, for the World Cup, but we have to decide the best for now.”

Several of Trapattoni’s key men, including strikers Kevin Doyle, Shane Long and Simon Cox, have not been regular starters for their clubs in recent weeks, although the manager is confident their lack of football will not be an issue. He is more concerned about those who are currently injured, with defender Richard Dunne’s recovery from a fractured collar bone the major issue.

Trapattoni said: “I am optimistic about Richard Dunne. Two days ago I was in touch with him and he was very confident. The recovery from his operation is going well.

“I spoke to John O’Shea, he said he had an injury but he will be ready for the next game. I have also been in touch with Damien Duff and Aiden McGeady and McGeady says he is fine.”