World Cup qual. - Ireland: Hunt replaces Duff

Eurosport - Fri, 05 Sep 15:52:00 2008

Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni has replaced injured Damien Duff with Stephen Hunt for the World Cup qualifier against Georgia.

FOOTBALL - Republic of Ireland midfielder Stephen Hunt - 0

The 27-year-old Reading midfielder will make only his second competitive start for his country in the game at the Bruchweg Stadium in Mainz on Saturday.

He is likely to line up on the right, but interchange with Aiden McGeady as Duff and the Celtic player did in last month's friendly draw in Norway.

Trapattoni admitted Ireland will miss Duff as he recovers from a knee injury, but is confident that he has cover within his squad and that Hunt will do a job for him against the Georgians.

"He is a young player with 100 percent enthusiasm," the Italian said. "He helps all his colleagues on the pitch. He understands that he can track back or play in front.

"For us, that is important. There are other players like Duff, but we have enough offensive players like McGeady, [Robbie] Keane, [Kevin] Doyle and also Duff who can score a goal."

Hunt linked up with the Irish squad on Tuesday having seen his hopes of a move back to the Premier League scuppered as the transfer window closed.

The winger admitted his disappointment at the collapse of a transfer late on Monday night, although Reading insist they received no offer from Everton for him.

However, Trapattoni insists he must put that all behind him and like the rest of his team-mates, focus only on the start of a 10-match campaign which will determine their participation in South Africa in 2010.

The manager said: "We have to forget what happens in the private situation.

"Now we can only think about our situation, the national situation. We can only think about our qualification, about the team and the games with Ireland.

"We must be proud to play with Ireland. We played enough good games against Serbia, Colombia and Norway and we have enough quality - our quality - to look to qualify for South Africa."

Full-back Kevin Kilbane has trained wearing a protective mask over his fractured cheekbone and will make his 49th consecutive competitive start.

Trapattoni has been hugely impressed by the Wigan man's attitude after he underwent surgery to repair damage suffered at Hull on Saturday the following day.

The game at the weekend is being played at a neutral venue because of the political situation in Georgia, and that is likely to prove an added motivation for Hector Cuper's side, who were hopeful of still staging the game in Tbilisi despite the Football Association of Ireland's concerns.

Around 5,000 Irish fans are expected to be in the stadium - which holds 20,000, but only 10,000 seated - with the Georgians having around half as many tickets.

However, Trapattoni believes national pride is important for both teams.

He said: "That is normal. I don't know why we can't have the same situation.

"I have already said we must be proud to play with the national team - my national team."

The Georgia game is followed next Wednesday by another tricky trip to Montenegro with Ireland knowing positive results in both will give them a good start to their campaign.

Trapattoni said: "In football, I play normally for two results - draw and win.

"It is important we get positive results, it's very important.

"These are our first two games and it is important that when the team comes back to Ireland, we haven't lost."

Sporting Life / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 20 of 20

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. Mr or mrs kieranm1. Whats wrong with robbie diving in the space....he one the competition with defoe. Robbie has smart ways of getting himself in the wasted space, with all regards to stephen m. he is the player that he is. The man is absolutly STARWARS. As a have dutch man, i do get irritated by some players, i've got one for yeah; Ruud van Nistelrooy, i think he could be a horse

    From geime, on Wed 24 Sep 5:40PM

  2. Hunt is good enough start

    From STEPHEN, on Sun 7 Sep 8:26AM

  3. Stephen M is very realistic in what he says about Keane. Keane is a striker that can score goals and only that. I think that him leading his country is a disgrace. He can't manage himself let alone a country. A waste of space Keane is not, only because of his goals. If Keane didn't score goals he'd be a waste of space. Keane dosen't like teams that close him down and don't allow him to play. When he gets frustrated he just can't play. Keane is the sort of player that teams fear though, just because he could come up with something special.

    From kieranm1@..., on Sat 6 Sep 1:38PM

  4. No matter how bad Keane has been playing Georgia will take him as a threat. Kaladze and Khizanvili are two solid defenders that will be hard to get past. Ireland usually get into the habit of stopping when they go 1-0 up. They wait and wait until the opponent scores to get back into gear. I am not convinced that Hunt is good enough when he starts. He is better when he comes on and gives an explosion of pace against the tired legs of the opponent. Keane as captain is a fairly poor decision. He can't inspire himself let alone a full team. Dunne or Given would be better candidates for the post. Shay Given is with out a doubt the best player on that line-up. He can keep clean sheet in the sometimes shambolic defences of Ireland and especially Newcastle. He can single handidly keep teams in games. Trapatoni is a great manager. He has seen it all at this stage. If he could get us to the World Cup we would have stand up and applaude him on a job well done !

    From kieranm1@..., on Sat 6 Sep 1:27PM

  5. Come on u boys in green -- lets get back to the days of big Jack and what you lacked in skill u made up for in spirit-and no team realished a game against the republic.
    Ireland 3 Georgia 0

    From Totally Disgusted, on Sat 6 Sep 10:30AM

  6. Keane plays different for us than he did for Spurs or Liverpool.He works harder for us he comes and collects the ball and starts moves while at Spurs (and now Liverpool) he's seen as more of a finisher!As for Hunt, he's a good player who give's all that he's got, is that good enough?, maybe not but with Duff out we really don't have many choices!All the same i would feel confisent with Hunt in there!

    From MichealS, on Fri 5 Sep 8:47PM

  7. Georgia wins against Ireland

    From gogiashvili.giorgi, on Fri 5 Sep 1:51PM

  8. Georgia wins agains Ireland

    From gogiashvili.giorgi, on Fri 5 Sep 1:49PM

  9. listen here, Silverbullet, mr Hunt shows risks in his passing!!! there was nothing wrong with that. Iam looking forward for Irland to beat Cyprus again, like in the early days...(2000/2001 up to 2004) And Stephen M, whats gone in to your head, mailing Keane is a waste of space in Irish Green!!! Do'nt tell your Granny!!

    From geime, on Fri 5 Sep 10:46AM

  10. cant believe he would say he plays for draws ...

    From justin, on Fri 5 Sep 9:28AM

  11. Ever saw a guy sorta like him on ___ AffluentMeet Com ___ It's where wealthy singles looking for younger unattached people to enjoy their wealthy lifestyle with.

    From bellywin951, on Fri 5 Sep 2:37AM

  12. come on guys get behind the team. Yeah Hunt is no world beater but he does bring a lot of qualities to the squad. I know its been a tough time supporting the Irish in the last few years but lets not keep knocking them, its the start of a new world cup campaign and new regime in charge. I have a feeling I might be booking holidays for summer of 2010 and hitting South Africa. COME ON IRELAND.

    From desfls2000, on Fri 5 Sep 2:20AM

  13. McGeady is good in the spl! For ireland he can't control the ball! Hopefully Trap will get the best out of him! And Hunt shouldn't have got sent off for that!

    From Stephen M, on Fri 5 Sep 1:35AM

  14. It was that same energy that got him sent off against the Czechs, he plays too many inaccurate passes that often find the opposition than our front men. And anyone who thinks he is better than McGeady is out of their mind. Thats just my personal opinion

    From Creaven91, on Fri 5 Sep 1:22AM

  15. Will people plz stop posting their message twice!, that includes you Luxy.

    From RaulThe2nd, on Thu 4 Sep 10:33PM

  16. What are you talking about silverbullet_fc? When Hunt played for against Wales and Czech Republic in the euro 08 qualifiers he really livened up the team and brought energy to the play! That's something we find hard to get! I find it hard to understand why Keane is still our captain! He is not our leader! Dunne would be far more suitable! Keane is a waste of space in a green jersey!

    From Stephen M, on Thu 4 Sep 7:21PM

  17. Hunt isn't good enough

    From Creaven91, on Thu 4 Sep 6:46PM

  18. Illiterate mongos.

    From CutPR, on Thu 4 Sep 6:36PM

  19. Seeing Cyprius flying their flag high.

    From Luxy, on Thu 4 Sep 4:52PM

  20. See Cyprius flying their flag high.

    From Luxy, on Thu 4 Sep 4:51PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account