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Conor Sammon. INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Sammon on the menu: Derby striker set for debut against Poland

Giovanni Trapattoni has named his team to start in tomorrow night’s international friendly.

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI HAS named Conor Sammon in his starting XI to face Poland tomorrow night.

The 26-year-old Derby County striker will make his senior debut alongside Shane Long in a 4-4-2 formation, meaning Wes Hoolahan has to settle for a place on the bench.

Glenn Whelan partners James McCarthy while Robbie Brady and James McClean will operate on the wings. Further back, Greg Cunningham gets the nod at left full-back with Paul McShane on the opposite side and Ciaran Clark joining John O’Shea in the centre of defence.

33-year-old Millwall keeper David Fode, meanwhile, starts ahead of Kieran Westwood.

Asked if he only sees Norwich attacker Hoolahan as an impact sub, Trapattoni said:  ”No no no, I could also start Wes tomorrow. We have four or five strikers, and we also have Doyle. We must not forget Doyle.

“Maybe I also tomorrow I could have [picked] Hendrick but I say always that James McCarthy must play because he must grow. We couldn’t change 11 in this friendly but the first thing is that the team grows and also the result. We need to improve the rankings. With good results, the players keep confidence and trust.

“Generally I am an optimist and positive but after these two days, I am extremely positive,” he added. I am very, very confident and I have faith about our performance and what we can do with this renewed team.

I said to them also that they have an opportunity because they are not only in this friendly game but they have an opportunity also to confirm their place in this squad, in this team.”

John O’Shea, who will captain the team, knows that although it is a friendly and the important games are a month away, getting a good result will do a lot to boost confidence in the camp.

“Without a doubt we want to get a positive result just to give everyone a lift but we know we face a very talented, tough Poland team,” O’Shea said. “They’re not going to give us anything easy and we have to make sure we perform well.

“If the new lads settle in and play very well, that will be the positive we take, but more importantly a positive performance should lead to a positive result. If training is anything to go by the last couple of days, I think we’ll get it.

“That’s where the experience of the manager comes in. He’ll be looking to get a positive result but also to give a chance to the lads who have worked hard the last couple of days in training, a bit of fresh blood.

“If the game’s 0-0, you mightn’t see as many changes as you want but fingers crossed if we got a lead, a couple of goals, fingers crossed the manager might be able to make more changes than he normally would. It all depends on how the develops.”

Ireland team v Poland: Forde, McShane, O’Shea, Clark, Cunningham, Brady, McCarthy, Whelan, McClean, Long, Sammon.

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    Mute willie
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    Feb 5th 2013, 2:47 PM

    I know it’s a friendly and it’s an opportunity to blood new talent, but that’s the weakest looking Irish team in years…… Mcshane???
    F*ck sake

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    Mute Chris Tobin
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    Feb 5th 2013, 4:33 PM

    ah lads McShane ?

    24
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    Mute tom pepper
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    Feb 5th 2013, 6:08 PM

    Ah lads give Mc Shane a break, he playing for team 3 rd in Championship, Cunningham playing for team second last in championship conceding 58 goals, Clarke – Villa – 49 goals conceded. Josh mid table with Sunderland. Based on those stats he is better than at least two of the back four. But week overall right across the back for tomorrow.

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    Mute Conor Callanan
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    Feb 5th 2013, 2:54 PM

    with sweden coming up walters and long should have started. we know mcshane is sh*te so start keogh there. glad cunningham, brady, mccarthy & mclean starting. unlucky on hoolahan.

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    Mute Declan McCabe
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    Feb 5th 2013, 2:56 PM

    I think Long is injured.

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    Mute John Mc Glynn
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    Feb 5th 2013, 3:17 PM

    Just when I think he can do the job properly, Crap brings me right back to reality. McShane and Forde is certainly not new blood. To start Sammon seems absolutely mental as we still havent fully seen what our current crop of strikers are capable of. Walters and Long still need matches at international level to prove their worth to the team having been understudies to Keane and Doyle for too long. And for Gods sake, Would ever just give Weso a chance to show what he can do! Either fit him into the midfield or change to Walters up top with Wes in the hole. Just try something. You do have options. AAARRRRGGGHHHH.

    13
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    Mute Martayyy
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    Feb 5th 2013, 3:08 PM

    Can someone tell me why he picks his team a day before the match eliminating the surprise element and letting our opponents pick up on our strengths and weaknesses??? I know he explained it once but I can’t remember what the pathetic excuse was!!

    12
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    Mute Peter Doyle
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    Feb 5th 2013, 5:12 PM

    He also names the squad about 6 months before a game. He must be worried the payers wont get their telegrams in time.

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    Mute Gavin O'Connor
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    Feb 5th 2013, 9:24 PM

    Prandelli named his team today as well. Could be an Italian thing.

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    Mute Peter Doyle
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    Feb 5th 2013, 5:19 PM

    Hurray another immobile target man who is incapable of using his feet, although that’s a bonus for Crapattoni in his system. The guy has 40 league goals in 210 games, 1 goal in 32 premier league games and a total of 8 goals in 64 games of English football; he is obviously the answer to all our problems up front.

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    Mute Mike Brennan
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    Feb 5th 2013, 6:01 PM

    Yes but we don’t have many first team strikers in any case.

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    Mute Eric Riordan
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    Feb 5th 2013, 4:58 PM

    Worst team I can think of. What’s happened us? Not all Trap’s fault – sure he picks the wrong players , but the right players aren’t much better!

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    Mute Eric Riordan
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    Feb 5th 2013, 5:00 PM

    Oh and the Polish are going to slaughter us tomorrow. Cunningham is going to have his arse handed to him if Błaszczykowski plays.

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    Mute Declan McCabe
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    Feb 5th 2013, 5:21 PM

    I think Blaszczykowski is injured.

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    Mute Martin Mac
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    Feb 5th 2013, 6:00 PM

    Won’t be watching that team. Awful just bloody awful

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    Mute Martin Sinnott
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    Feb 5th 2013, 2:53 PM

    33 yo keeper.! Is this new blood ?

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    Mute Robbie O'Neill
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    Feb 5th 2013, 4:49 PM

    The poles are quaking in their boots, there was no need to try poison the team with horsemeat they’re horse shite anyway! At least next month the bubble will have burst and trappashitty will be on his way

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    Mute Will Keane
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    Feb 5th 2013, 2:47 PM

    Cue the horse jokes

    3
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