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Jon Walters during squad training yesterday. INPHO/Donall Farmer
Boys in Green

Out of the Traps: seven Irish debuts in the Italian era

As Ireland are set to introduce a couple of new faces against Wales tonight, Kevin Coleman reflects on some of the first caps during the Trapattoni regime.

AS IRELAND AIM to kick off their Carling Nations Cup campaign with a bang against Wales tonight, Giovanni Trapattoni has revealed we will give a long-awaited debut to Everton wing back Seamus Coleman, as well as a deserved nod to Aston Villa’s Ciaran Clark.

So here are seven players who have made their debuts under Trapattoni since he took the job in 2008.

1. Sean St Ledger: The Preston North End defender was a surprise inclusion for Ireland when he was called into the 2010 World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria in June of 2009, but the 26-year-old has been a mainstay in Il Trap’s defence since his emergence.

He’s played in every match he’s been available for. As well as the impressive debut in Sofia, St Ledger was impressive in both legs of Ireland’s play-off with France, and it was his diving header against Italy which got Ireland to Paris. If only his 86th minute goal was the last play of that game at Croker.

He’s currently on loan at Middlesbrough, even though he’s been linked with moves to the Premier League as well as Scotland for the past few transfer windows. Either way, St Ledger has been one of the success stories since Trapattoni took over the reigns.

2. Keith Fahey: Between spells in the city of Birmingham, Keith Fahey has spent most of his career in the League of Ireland, but has gained a national calling since joining Birmingham from St Patrick’s Athletic in 2009.

He won his first senior cap against Paraguay in a friendly at the RDS, but the impact he had on his competitive debut was much more vital has he converted a chance to give Ireland all three points in a 1-0 victory over Armenia.

Fahey was cut from the squad last week, perhaps due to his lacklustre performance in the friendly against Norway in November, but an injury to Keith Tracey means the Dublin lad has been drafted back into the side where he will most likely make his eight cap in a Green shirt.

3. Liam Lawrence: The current Portsmouth midfielder made his debut for the Republic in a friendly game against Nigeria in 2009. The then Stoke City player qualified through his Kerry-born grandfather, and thanks be to God because Lawrence has been an integral part of Trap’s squads over the last year and a half with his work ethic and ability from set pieces.

Lawrence’s first start came in Thomond Park where he scored a cracking free-kick against South Africa, has also started the big games against Italy, and was phenomenal in the play-off tie against Les Bleus at the Stade de France.

Lawrence however will miss the upcoming match against Wales due to a calf injury.

4. Glenn Whelan: The Stoke City midfielder made his Ireland debut in the same game as Trapattoni; a friendly against Serbia.

He has been an ever present in Trap’s sides since then, playing a vital part in their World Cup qualifying campaign as well as Ireland’s impressive start to the Euro 2012 qualifying series.

Whelan has already notched up 25 games in green, despite not being a starter for his club. Nonetheless the Dubliner thrives in Trapattoni’s system.

Whelan scored his first goal against Georgia, but his second was the belting opener in the 2-2 draw against Italy.

5. Paul Green: Some may say the Ireland scouts looked at his name and liked it, because it’s hard to find another reason why the Derby midfielder got the call-up.

The 27-year-old has been never played beyond the Football League Championship, but his inclusion was a surprising one when he was a part of the friendlies against Paraguay and Algeria before the World Cup.

Green scored in the latter, and has gone on to make seven appearances for Ireland, being regarded in every squad since his debut. Feedback hasn’t been positive of Green’s Irish career however, as the ever informative Goal.com said of his performance in the 3-2 defeat against Russia: “Paul who? Did absolutely nothing to help put pressure on the haemorrhaging wound that was Ireland’s central midfield.”

6. Kieren Westwood: The Coventry shot-stopper has been number two to Shay Given for quite some time, but he made his debut in the match against Nigeria in 2009.

Westwood has played three times for Ireland, and unless Ireland’s record appearance holder gets injured or decides to hang up his gloves any time soon, matchtime will be limited for Westwood.

Given is 34, which isn’t too old for a goalkeeper so he should see out a few more years, but Westwood – who was by far Coventry’s best player last season – will be waiting in the wings for Ireland and Trap.

7. Greg Cunningham: The Manchester City full back is one that Coleman and Clark can relate to. The 20-year-old Galway lad is a City academy graduate, but with the riches being seeped through City it will be difficult for Greg to ever forge a career at Eastlands.

Nonetheless, Cunningham has been included by Trap three times to date, which is more than the amount of senior Man City appearances he has made.

It was something of a baptism of fire for Greg as he was included in the Brazil friendly last spring, but never got off the bench. He did however play in the 3-0 demolition of Algeria, the 1-0 defeat against Argentina and the most recent friendly against Norway. Cunningham is currently on loan at Leicester who, like City, are starting to invest heavily in the side, but he was a starter in the first half of the season so doesn’t lack match practice.