Giovanni Trapattoni has warned Republic of Ireland pair Shay Given and John O'Shea they have to prove they are fit.
Italian manager relieved to have no further injury concerns
Giovanni Trapattoni has warned that regular Ireland internationals Shay Given and John O'Shea will have to prove their fitness ahead of Euro 2012.
Both are due to resume training in Montecatini, Italy, following knee and ankle injuries respectively.
And even though Trapattoni remains confident they will be okay to board the plane to Poland, Paul McShane has been drafted in as cover particularly for O'Shea and also Kevin Foley who is recovering from a hamstring injury.
Sunderland's O'Shea and Given of Aston Villa were left out of the side's 1-0 friendly victory over Bosnia making way for the likes of Keiren Westwood, McShane and others to get a run out as Ireland's squad was used to full effect at the Aviva Stadium - much to the Italian coach's delight.
Productive
"They (the injured players including Given and O'Shea) will have to show us on Monday they are ready. Richard Dunne showed that to us on Friday," the Italian warned.
The friendly match in Dublin proved a productive day for Ireland with Trapattoni relieved not to be nursing any further injuries in his squad after a week of niggles which actually prompted the veteran tactician to make a last minute change when he initially named Sean St Ledger in his starting line-up.
"I said St Ledger and Dunne would play, but then in the night when I couldn't sleep, I thought about this and was it a good idea or not and decided to change with [Darren] O'Dea and run the risk with only one," he said.
"Two together was a little bit dangerous, but we are happy because we did a good job."
