Published: Thursday, 16th October, 2008 13:00
Doyle leads Irish to victory
By Anthony Smith
Comments (0)
Print Article
Ireland's finest: Kevin Doyle was man-of-the-match in Ireland's win over Cyprus.
KEVIN Doyle was hailed by his Republic of Ireland colleagues following his man-of-the-match performance in their 1-0 victory over Cyprus at Dublin’s Croke Park.
Doyle ran himself into the ground on Wednesday night and he offered excellent support to fellow striker Robbie Keane who scored the only goal in a vital World Cup qualifier.
Ireland and Manchester United star John O’Shea stated: “Kevin Doyle was unselfish - that’s him to a tee.
“He is an absolute team player, and he was fantastic tonight. He gave the two Cyprus centre halves and their full-backs a really tough night.
“He closed them down, every yard of the pitch, but unfortunately he didn’t get a goal for his rewards.”
Doyle was one of three Reading players in Giovanni Trapattoni’s original squad. But while the 25-year-old striker lasted virtually the entire match before being substituted, Hunt did not come off the bench while Long failed to make the final 16.
However, Royals boss Steve Coppell will be secretly delighted as he needs his players fit for the hectic Championship schedule that includes five games in the next two weeks.
But Coppell has deep concerns over the fitness of midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson who limped out of Iceland qualifier against Macedonia.
Gunnarsson was forced off after 26 minutes and is a major doubt for Reading’s trip to Preston North End this Saturday.
If the 33-year-old fails to recover it will almost certainly open the door for James Harper to return in the centre of midfield.
Meanwhile, Doyle believes it is only a matter of time before Noel Hunt becomes the fourth Reading player in the Republic of Ireland side.
Hunt, the younger brother of Stephen, has cracked six goals since joining from Dundee United for £600,000 in the summer after netting 19 goals in the Scottish Premier League last season.
Hunt should have played a friendly for an Ireland XI last week but was forced to withdraw though injury.
But Doyle insist he is good enough to make the step up: “Definitely,” he stated. “With his form at the moment there is no reason why not.
“I don’t know if they have been to see us play or have seen Noel play recently, but he was obviously selected for the `B’ squad and some of the lads who were in the `B’ squad and weren’t already in the proper squad were called up.
“With his form and the way he has been playing, he had a very good chance of being in there.”
Doyle and Hunt are proving to be a deadly combination for Royals and the blistering form of their Irish players has helped fire them to third in the Championship table.
Doyle is leading scorer with eight while the Hunt brothers have bagged 11 between them. Shane Long also netted in the recent 3-1 win over Burnley and recent Cork-City signing Dave mooney is patiently waiting for his chance.
Their invaluable input has also become the basis for plenty of dressing-room banter. “We’ve been saying to the other players that only Irishmen are allowed to score for Reading, and I don’t think they are too happy about it. We have just been winding them up a bit.
“That’s just been the way it is. Most of our attacking players have been Irish, so it is going to be Irish people who will probably score now, Hunty left wing and me and Noel up front and then Longy coming off the bench.
“And if one of us three doesn’t score then Mooney is Irish as well and Leroy Lita has gone on loan - so it is going to be an Irish striker unless the centre-halves keep scoring from corners.”
Fresh rumours emerged this week suggesting Aston Villa are preparing an £8 million bid for Doyle in January and could use Marlon Harewood as part of the deal.
Villa, Tottenham and Sunderland were linked with the 25-year-old in the summer, though Royals insist no bids were made.
Doyle has put the speculation behind him, saying: “I have put it out of my head, got my head down and forgotten about it. There’s nothing you can do.
“You know what you have to do to get back to the top level in England, me personally and the team, is to play well and things will look after themselves after that.
“It was the only way to respond to it, to try and play well. Whether it happened or not, there is no points in moaning about it.
“Once the transfer window ended, I just had to train hard, forget about it and it’s worked out for me. The form has come in the last six or seven weeks.”
Further Details
Lita in shock recall?