Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
GAFFER VOWS WE ARE NOT IN ‘RAVERS GEAR
MARK TRAVERS was told weeks ago that he had every chance of making his competitive debut against Serbia tonight.
Stephen Kenny does not subscribe to the Martin O’neillschool of naming his starting XI just 90-minutes before kick-off.
Some players are given a heads up in advance so they can mentally prepare themselves for the task at hand.
But Kenny felt that would be particularly beneficial for Travers, 21, who steps up for the biggest game of his life. Darren Randolph, the established Ireland No.1, injured his thigh playing for West Ham against Manchester City in late February.
The writing was on the wall for him at that point but Caoimhin Kelleher was also struggling with an abdominal injury.
And although Kenny gave the rising Liverpool star until the weekend to prove his fitness, he was always losing that battle. Travers was prepped weeks ago and is gearing up for just his third cap and competitive debut.
On the bench for Bournemouth, he joined Swindon Town on loan in
January and was supposed to stay there for the season.
But the Cherries recalled the Maynooth lad prematurely and he hasn’t played a competitive game since February 9.
Kenny said: “I’ve been in contact with Mark over the last couple of weeks.
“We thought that he might have played for Bournemouth against Southampton in the FA Cup on Saturday.
“It didn’t happen but it doesn’t matter, it’s immaterial. He’s been training very well and is in impeccable condition.”
Kenny added: “Serbia put a lot of crosses into the box and have the capacity to score headed goals with their forwards.
“Mark is 6’4 and is certainly capable of coming out to take crosses and this will be important. He’s a very calm individual.
“His performance against Tottenham on his Bournemouth debut was quite exceptional going back a couple of years.
“He hasn’t had a real run of consecutive games at his club, but he has the characteristics to be a really good goalkeeper.”