The fringe players in the Irish squad shouldn’t book those summer holidays just yet

Giovanni Trapattoni intends on naming his Euro 2012 squad early next month, but he will still be able to avail of a ‘wildcard’ option right up until the opening game with Croatia on 10 June.

The venerable Italian is set to finalise the 23-man squad on 7 May and must submit it to Uefa before the deadline on 29 May. While the 'wildcard' option might sound all sexy-like, it is simply a practical option that can be used in the event of a squad player suffering an injury prior to the tournament.

Barring a few tricky calls for the final places, every Irish supporter knows the likely make-up of the majority of the squad that will be boarding the plane to Poland, but Trap will be able to call on a substantial list of standby players should misfortune strike any of the squad right up until the opening game with Croatia in Poznan. If it does happen, touch wood it’s not Dunney.

As a result, the likes of Seamus Coleman, James McCarthy and James McClean – who probably all should be in the squad but may well miss out – may be named on a standby list and will have to delay their summer sojourns to Ibiza, Dubai or wherever else young, rich footballers go these days for a few more weeks.

“The squad will be announced on May 7 but there will be a standby list of maybe six players,” FAI Chief Executive John Delaney is quoted as saying in The Sun.

“But there is a new ruling that you can change your squad. If you go back to Saipan 10 years ago you had Colin Healy.

“Now right up to the first game you can send in your teamsheet. If you change a player because you believe he is not fit to play then I’m sure they will believe you. I think this new rule is right.

“You have it during the Rugby World Cup, that you can bring in players as you go along. To be able to leave it up to the first game is something I find very positive.”

We're not sure whether John was hinting at some devious tactics when he said "I'm sure they will be believe you", but at least it means that there is an outside chance of some of our more exciting fringe players making an appearance at the Euros even if they're not named in the initial squad.