REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD:HAVING persistently claimed winning the Carling Nations Cup is a priority for him and his players, Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni acknowledged the games this month against Northern Ireland and Scotland have taken on added importance because of the number of injuries afflicting established regulars ahead of the more important trip to Macedonia in early June.

Despite naming a couple of key players on what appears to be no more than an off-chance, some, like Damien Duff and Kevin Doyle, the Italian acknowledged, are effectively out of the entire end-of-season programme. And at least one – Shay Given – is likely to be nursed through the initial two games with a view to preventing any mishaps prior to Skopje, particularly if, as seems possible, Keiren Westwood cries off due to an ongoing shoulder problem.

Already without Richard Dunne for the European Championship qualifier due to suspension, Trapattoni’s diminishing options at the heart of his defence are of particular concern. Seán St Ledger is a major doubt because of a knee injury, while Ipswich’s Darren O’Dea, according to his club manager Paul Jewell, is set for surgery on what the Englishman suggested was a very serious ankle problem.

In the circumstances, Trapattoni said, only half in jest, he is praying nothing happens to John O’Shea before June 4th.

Definitely out, though the news was apparently only confirmed after the squad was drawn up, is Duff, whose Achilles injury has continued to trouble him since it almost ruled him out of the home win over the Macedonians. After that game, the Dubliner made just one further appearance for Fulham before being sidelined and Trapattoni revealed yesterday he will have surgery this week.

On a brighter note, Simon Cox, the West Brom player who can play up front or just behind the strikers, is at an advanced stage of completing the paperwork required to declare for Ireland.

The 24 year-old, whose grandmother was born in Galway, has scored four goals this season, having made 10 starts and 11 appearances from the bench. Three of those goals, however, came in the League Cup.

If the process is successfully completed over the next two weeks then Cox is likely to join up with the squad and provide the manager with an additional option as he tries to juggle his resources over what thus far remains, pending the confirmation of a post Macedonia friendly, a three-match programme.

“It’s a big squad, though,” he said, “with 28 or 29 players and I think we should be able to play three games without any problem. We can make changes and give the young players some opportunities.”

With Westwood looking doubtful, Given’s return will provide some relief for the manager although Trapattoni concedes, in the absence of any game time, he only has the Donegal man’s own confidence in the progress he is making by way of evidence of the goalkeeper’s availability. “He said: ‘It’s okay, I’ll be ready’,” said Trapattoni. “And we know his character. Without any other problems, he’ll be here.”

If not then David Forde could be in line for a big kick off to his international career as Paddy Kenny, the manager made clear, will not be returning to the fold any time soon despite keeping 24 clean sheets for QPR this season.

Norwich City forward Wes Hoolahan has also not made the cut, but one player who has been included after so many previous disappointments is Stephen Ward, the versatile Wolves player who was forced to withdraw from the only squad he was previously named in, the one for last year’s end-of-season friendlies.

In the circumstances, Ward stands a good chance of earning a first cap this month but Trapattoni admits he will look first and foremost to his more experienced players for the game in Skopje where, given his aversion to the idea of heading to Moscow in need of a win, taking all three points will be a major priority.

“We left Russia away until last for a reason,” he said, although the game is actually the third last in a programme set out for the Irish by Uefa after various associations failed to reach agreement on the fixtures. “Psychologically we don’t want to go to Moscow needing a win. We need to do well in our other games, like Macedonia; they are opportunities for us.”

In case he needed reminding of how such opportunities can go wrong, Trapattoni’s hosts at Athlone Institute of Technology, where he later officially opened a new pitch, projected the teams from AC Milan’s 1975 Uefa Cup game at St Mel’s Park on to a screen adjacent to the press conference. The Italian was the club’s assistant manager at the time and there was a presentation to mark his return some 35 years after the fondly remembered (in these parts) 0-0 draw as well as John Minnock and a couple of the other Athlone Town players on hand to enhance the welcome.

Moscow, he knows, is likely to be rather less friendly and Skopje, if any more of his core players are lost, is likely to prove tricky too.

* PETER Hutton has been appointed manager of Finn Harps, with the former Derry City defender to work with his former boss from the Brandywell, Felix Healy, who returns to the club as director of football.

Healy led the club to the First Division title in 2004 having previously played at Finn Park. Hutton never played for Harps, but his father, Peter, was a member of the 1974 FAI Cupwinning side and played for the club than 200 times. “Myself and Felix are aware there is a lot of work to be done,” said Hutton.