Updated 21.15

IRELAND NEED CONOR Sammon to come up trumps after manager Giovanni Trapattoni played what he feels is his strongest hand in a bid to keep the World Cup campaign on track — and to protect his job.

Home defeat against Austria tomorrow night would heap even more pressure on the embattled Italian and, deprived of his captain and first-choice striker Robbie Keane, Trap has bet the house that Sammon will shine on his first competitive start.

The Derby County striker, who made his senior bow in last month’s friendly against Poland, partners Shane Long up front in a team which shows just two changes from the side which fought Sweden to a scoreless draw. Glenn Whelan has recovered from the ankle injury which ruled him out last Friday and returns to the starting XI at the expense of Paul Green.

Asked why Sammon had been given the nod, Trapattoni said that he offers a combination of speed and strength that will prove very useful against a technically proficient Austrian side.

“I think his quality can give support to Shane,” Trapattoni said in Malahide today. “Physically, he is quick and strong. He showed us in the last games his quality.

“He’s not only tall. If you see him, he’s fast.”

He added:

It’s important to defend the ball and give the support to allow the team to come up. We are at home but we don’t know what Austria will do. We have to think about if they are coming and pressing or if they stay and wait for us.

You have to choose this situation: they wait for us and come in counter-attack, or they come in pressure? Give us space, or we need to find the space? With both players we can have this opportunity.

Although Friday’s draw in Sweden is seen as a point gained rather than two lost, there has been concern at the lack of clear-cut goalscoring opportunities Ireland created and the fact that the team failed to register a single shot on target in 90 minutes.

The squad’s main creative threat, Wes Hoolahan, starts on the bench again with Trapattoni wary of making changes that might hand the visitors the early initiative.

“It’s possible to put Hoolahan up front if we dominate the ball and we’re playing in the Austrians’ space. You can decide yes or no. You change with reason.

“I love Wes but the problem is also the opponent.”

Ireland (v Austria): Forde, Coleman, O’Shea, Clark, Wilson, Walters, Whelan, McCarthy, McClean, Sammon, Long.