Updated 8.40am
GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI WON’T hold a press conference in Abbotstown later today due to the passing of his sister but the squad will be named in his absence for the first international fixture of 2013.
Ireland host Poland in a friendly at Lansdowne Road on February 6 but with two massive World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Austria scheduled for the following month, he needs to make good use of his only opportunity to test out new players and gauge the form of his current crop.
Since it was announced last October that the Italian would be remaining in the hot seat, he has been spotted at numerous scouting missions at grounds around England.
Below are three players uncapped players who we would like to see called up:
Anthony Pilkington
Trapattoni has paid a couple of visits to Carrow Road to watch both Wes Hoolahan and Anthony Pilkington in recent months. And while Hoolahan was finally awarded a second chance to don the green jersey in the November defeat to Greece, his 24-year-old team-mate hasn’t played for Ireland since appearing for the back in 2008.
A direct winger who has shown a good work rate as well as an eye for goal this season, Blackburn-born Pilkington has revealed he would relish the chance to link up with the squad and would be a welcome addition as one of a handful of players who are plying their trade in the Premier League right now.
Enda Stevens
Having made his debut for Aston Villa back in August, former Shamrock Rovers defender has appeared nine times for the Midlanders. Desperately short on experience at the back due to the injuries of Richard Dunne and Ron Vlaar, Paul Lambert’s side are languishing just above the drop zone and are likely to be involved in a relegation scrap for the remainder of the season.
That said, 22-year-old Stevens has showed promise at left full-back, a position Ireland do not have an abundance of options in. Rather than throwing him straight into the firing line, the player would almost certainly benefit in the long term by being integrated into the squad and getting a taste of the senior set-up.
Jeff Hendrick
Midfielder Jeff Hendrick received many plaudits last season and after enduring a dose of second season syndrome during the opening months of the current campaign is back in-form – scoring three goals in his last four games for the Rams.
James McCarthy, David Meyler and Darron Gibson (when he chooses to return) are all more well-established but Hendrick, playing regularly in the Championship, is still just 20 years of age and certainly deserves a place ahead of U21 team-mate Conor Clifford, who was named in Trap’s last two squads but isn’t even getting a look-in at League One side Crawley Town.
Are there any other players you want in the squad?
