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Marco Tardelli at a Gannon Park press briefing earlier. INPHO/Donall Farmer

We're good to go, says Tardelli ahead of Estonian departure

Ireland’s assistant manager gave the squad a clean bill of health at Gannon Park this morning.

IRELAND’S ASSISTANT MANAGER Marco Tardelli says the squad are fighting fit ahead of their departure for Tallinn this afternoon.

Giovanni Trapattoni’s side take on Estonia in the first-leg of their Euro2012 qualification play-off on Friday night.

This morning the side again trained in Malahide  and the Italian subsequently gave the squad a clean bill of health.

Senior players like Richard Dunne and Robbie Keane are fit to play and in an apparent indication of the XI that will line out, Tardelli says the decision of who will partner Robbie Keane up front – Simon Cox or Jonathon Walters - is the only one yet to be made.

Meanwhile, full back Stephen Kelly looks ready to deputise for the injured John O’Shea. And the Fulham full back insists he’s ready to take his chance in the starting side.

“Any time there’s been an opportunity for the manager to play me, he’s done so,” he told the FAI’s official website, “I played left back in last game (against Armenia) and right-back before that against Russia.

“I’ve played a lot of big games in this campaign. This has been the campaign that I’ve been able to show myself, really get to grips with it and make an impact. Hopefully, I’m able to do that in Estonia.

“We’re on the brink of a playing at major tournament and these two are the games that will get us there. If I do get to play, hopefully it’s a game I have fond memories of.”

Hot off the press: here’s what the Estonian papers are saying about Ireland

Time for Trap to take the handbrake off

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3 Comments
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    Mute Simon Dwyer
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    Apr 23rd 2024, 2:55 PM

    A good manager. Great season Aston villa are having.

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    Mute Ronnie Pickering
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    Apr 23rd 2024, 3:12 PM

    A great ebening for Villa fans. Manager of the year in my opinion.

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    Mute Graham
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    Apr 23rd 2024, 3:20 PM

    @Ronnie Pickering: he has brought Villa back to the big guys table. Without the laundering.

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    Mute Dan P
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    Apr 23rd 2024, 3:50 PM

    @Ronnie Pickering: see what you did there

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    Mute robert kelly
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    Apr 23rd 2024, 5:02 PM

    Funny how he was made a scapegoat and laughed out of it at Arsenal and made to look like an absolute fool… Most of the people who slagged him off and said he was useless then are probably saying he’s manager if the year now. A really good proven coach before and now after Arsenal. Just because it doesn’t work at a certain club doesn’t make you you bad manager. Movyes at Utd rings a bell too. Uefa conference winner. Ironic how Utd will most likely be in that competition next season.

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    Mute David Staed
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    Apr 23rd 2024, 5:59 PM

    @robert kelly: Another article that has nothing to do with Man Utd but someone manages to shoehorn them into the conversation. They are just never far from peoples thoughts.

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    Mute Tom Walsh
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    Apr 23rd 2024, 6:15 PM

    @David Staed: because they make everyone laugh

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    Mute robert kelly
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    Apr 23rd 2024, 6:43 PM

    @David Staed: I was making a point comparing managerial appointments and the similar situations of Unai Emery and David Moyes that were treated terribly and used as scapegoats which ultimately nearly ended each of their careers but in turn went on to be successful elsewhere… No more no less. Thanks Dave good man

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    Mute Michael Fielding
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    Apr 23rd 2024, 10:45 PM

    A brilliant manager. A real tactician.

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    Mute Der Calnan
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    Apr 23rd 2024, 8:34 PM

    I was thinking of putting on a Spanish accent while giving my team talk Sunday morning, I wonder would it work?

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