Soccer Digest: Giovanni Trapattoni finalizes changes Irish team for World Cup opener

Celtic wins and soccer and sports shorts

Republic of Ireland: Westwood, Forde, Randolph, Wilson, O’Shea, St. Ledger, O’Dea, Ward, Kelly, McShane, Gibson, McCarthy, Whelan, Coleman, O’Brien, McGeady, Keogh, McClean, Keane, Doyle, Long, Cox, Walters.
 
Celtic Wins

Celtic manager Neil Lennon was delighted with youngster Tony Watt as the teenager scored twice in a 4-2 win over Inverness.

Watt marked his first league start for the club with a man of the match performance as Gary Hooper’s new strike partner.

Praising the pair afterwards, manager Lennon said, “They were sensational. Tony gives us something a little bit different.

“He is prepared to go in behind, has a physical presence, and is prepared to run at people. He does a lot of unselfish running. He was a real handful for two pretty strong center-halves today.
“Gary just kept going into the pockets and picking up the ball deep and starting a lot of attacks off. I’m really, really pleased with their performances.”

Victor Wanyama and Charlie Mulgrew also scored for Celtic ahead of Wednesday night’s Champions League showdown with Helsingborgs with the Bhoys 2-0 up from the first leg in Sweden.

Meanwhile, Swansea have signed Celtic midfielder Ki Sung-yueng for an undisclosed club record fee, subject to a work permit and international clearance.
 
Soccer Shorts

ITALIA ’90 hero Kevin Sheedy is to undergo surgery for bowel cancer but has pledged to return to work as youth team coach at Everton. “It’s not ideal but I have to remain positive,” said Sheedy. “After a period of rehabilitation I will return to my coaching role at Everton.”. . . 

SHAMROCK Rovers will take on Dublin rivals Shelbourne in the quarterfinals of the FAI Cup next month. In the remaining games, St. Patrick’s Athletic meet Drogheda, Bohs will host Dundalk and Derry City will welcome the winners of the Waterford United and Mervue clash . . .

EVERTON and Aston Villa have been linked with Irish striker Kevin Doyle, while teammate Stephen Hunt has been told he can leave Wolves if the right offer comes in . . .

SEAN St. Ledger has returned to action with Leicester City and will be fit for Ireland’s World Cup opener in Kazakhstan next month . . . 

WATFORD’S Irish winger Mark Yeates could move to Crystal Palace or Leeds before the transfer window closes on Friday . . .

SLIGO Rovers moved a step closer to the League of Ireland title with a scoreless draw against high-flying St. Pat’s . . . 

FORMER Irish striker Daryl Murphy is to return to Ipswich Town on loan from Celtic in a season long deal . . .

NOTTS County’s Irish winger Alan Judge is attracting interest from Ipswich Town, Hull City and Reading . . .

COVENTRY City have appointed Lee Carsley as caretaker boss after sacking manager Andy Thorn.
Harrington Nixed

PADRAIG Harrington will support Europe from afar at the Ryder Cup in Medinah in Chicago at the end of the month – but he has no complaints after captain Jose Maria Olazabal picked Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and England’s Ian Poulter as his two wild cards.

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Nster.com