Injury crisis for Ireland as they land in Sofia

Giovanni Trappatoni faces the biggest test of his tenure as his unbeaten Irish side face a crucial away day in Sofia. The two sides drew at Croke Park in February but the Bulgarians are boosted by the return of their superstar striker Dimitar Berbatov who missed the earlier fixture.

The Italian veteran has had a torrid time of things with Dean Kiely walking out and injuries to key players. Paul McShane left training on a golf buggy, Glen Whelan has a calf injury which makes him touch and go and Caleb Folan is also struggling. The teams senior strars skipper Robbie Keane and Richard Dunne are also doubts. The Irish have been tight and disciplined in this campaign with the away point in Bari against Worl d Champions and holders Italy the biggest highlight. The two have been neck and neck at the top of the group with one going through and the second placed side set for a playoff, which has often been a graveyard for Irish dreams in the past with Anfield and Bursa two playoffs which linger long in the memory.

That Trappatoni has managed such a feat despite the sides two most creative midfielders being unavailable with Stephen Ireland choosing not to play for us despite his scintillating premiership form and the long term injuries to the unfortunate Stephen Reid is laudable. The wily Italian has utilised Glenn Whelan and Keith Andrews alongside Darron Gibson all three are the much derided “water carriers” of Cantona speak, diligent players whose workrate is exhaustive but they don’t have the finesse that the two absent stars would have to nail a slide rule pass or a cross field ball to get the breakthrough.

One of this team’s biggest strengths has been goalkeeper Shay Given who is carrying a slight knock. The Donegal man has always been a World class performer and may now garner the medals his undoubted brilliance deserves now he’s moved to Eastlands.

Trapattoni has called up two goalkeepers for cover – Birmingham City’s Colin Doyle and Wayne Henderson from Preston North End.

They warmed up for the game with a 1-1 draw against Nigeria in a Craven Cottage friendly last Friday night. Giovanni is upbeat ahead of the qualifier and he expects Keane to lead out his team.

“After the game with Nigeria we showed we can play well and with confidence,” he said.

“The players have played well in qualifying and they will get stronger. I have confidence in them. It was just as a precaution, Robbie has some inflammation under his foot, it’s nothing serious and he will be fine for Saturday.”

Victory for the Irish will send them back to the top of Group Eight and a point would still be useful, but Bulgaria desperately need to win. Richard Dunne was philisophical “I think Bulgaria will come at us, we must play as we did against Italy, take our time and hopefully we can get a break and grab a goal,The onus is on them to win. If they do not, then it is us in pole position.”

The Republic were held 1-1 by Bulgaria at Croke Park in March before securing a memorable draw in Italy a few days later.

“It is a game where we can go back to the top of the group and put ourselves in a good position to qualify.”

Bulgaria came away from Dublin with a point without Dunne’s club-mates Valeri Bojinov and Martin Petrov, as well as Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov, and with all three now available they will be a different proposition in Sofia.

“Valeri is a sharp player, if anything spills around the box he is usually on the end of it and he does not miss too many,” added Dunne.

“Himself, Petrov and Berbatov, if they come back into the team, can really cause us problems.”

Ireland have now left their London Colney training camp and will train in Sofia Friday ahead of the match with Irish Assistant Manager Liam Brady saying he was confident that everyone will play some part in the session.

Bob "The Voice" McKenzie Twitter: @BobTheVoice About: