Trapattoni waits for key duo to prove fitness

Giovanni Trapattoni will wait until today before deciding whether Shay Given and John O’Shea are fit enough to make Ireland’s squad for Euro 2012.

Trapattoni must submit his final 23-man group today and the Ireland boss is determined to ensure Aston Villa goalkeeper Given and Sunderland defender O’Shea are in the right condition to feature in Poland and Ukraine.

Both are due to resume training at Ireland’s training camp in Montecatini in Italy this week after knee and ankle injuries respectively but, while Trapattoni is confident they will make the squad, Paul McShane will travel as cover for O’Shea and Kevin Foley, who is recovering from a hamstring strain.

Trapattoni, whose side warmed up for the tournament with a 1-0 friendly win over Bosnia in Dublin on Saturday, said: “They will have to show us on Monday (today) they are ready. Richard Dunne showed that to us on Friday after his injury.”

Aside from the injuries, Trapattoni and his players will head to their training camp in good spirits after Shane Long’s 78th-minute header secured a well-deserved victory over the Bosnians.

Trapattoni was impressed by Sunderland winger James McClean, who marked his first Ireland start with a dynamic display that suggested he could play a major role at the finals.

“In the first half, he played very well. We wished to give him immediately the opportunity because he needs to get confidence,” Trapattoni said.

“It is the first time he has played with Keane and Doyle – and he did very well, especially in the first half.

“In the second half, he went a little bit down. He was running too much and was a little bit tired, but for his first start, he played very well.”