Boys in Green squadwatch: Who caught Trap’s eye this weekend

There are only five days to go until Giovanni Trapattoni selects the Irish squad for the crucial double header against Sweden and Austria so we look at who would have caught his eye this weekend.

Robbie Keane

Some will say it’s easy to score in a league in which Mikael Silvestre and Darren O’Dea are first choice central defenders, but goals are goals and Robbie Keane seemingly can’t stop banging them in at the moment.

Despite the often depressing tone in his music, Morrissey’s visit to cousin Robbie (yes, they are related) in the LA Galaxy dressing room seems to have done him no harm and he followed up a on a pre-season strike against Tijuana with the fourth goal in the Galaxy’s MLS opener against the Chicago Fire at the weekend.

He was also heavily involved in all three of the goals scored by hat-trick Mike Magee, who repaid his captain with an awful attempt at a celebration made famous by the Irish captain, something that Robbie himself doesn’t seem to put as much effort into these days.

Sweden and Austria will represent an entirely different kettle of fish entirely, but Robbie’s confidence is high at the moment and that can only be a good thing as far as Trap and the Boys in Green are concerned.

Robbie Brady

Many considered Robbie Brady’s move from Manchester United to the Championship as a massive step down for the Dubliner, but he seems intent on returning to the Premier League as soon as possible with new club Hull City.

Surrounded by his compatriots at the KC Stadium – David Meyler, Paul McShane and Stephen Quinn are all on the Tigers’ books – Brady is flourishing on the left flank in Steve Bruce's side and he set up the first of George Boyd’s two goals in the 5-2 tonking of Birmingham City at the weekend, a result which keeps Hull in the automatic promotion places.

Trap is already a big fan of Brady, regularly praising his technical ability, and if he has been watching the 21-year old in recent weeks, he seems a good bet to be handed the left-wing berth for the ultra-important meeting with Sweden on Friday week.

Marc Wilson

Stoke are in an awful run of form at the moment, having won only one of their last nine league games, but Marc Wilson can hardly be blamed for that, having only returned to the side after 17 games out as a result of the broken leg he picked up back in October.

The fact that he was brought straight into the first team by Tony Pulis shows how highly he is regarded at the Britannia and Trap can take positives from the fact that he has played 90 minutes in each of the last two games.

Wilson appeared to have nailed down a starting spot at left back for Ireland before his injury and his experience could prove vital in a position that has proved to be something of a problem area for Ireland in recent years. His return is a very welcome one indeed.