Fahey is out to make his name, unpronounceable or otherwise

Goalkeeper Shay Given sat out the latter part of training at Gannon Park in Malahide yesterday, but assistant manager Marco Tardelli later confirmed that was simply to give him a rest.

Defenders Paul McShane and Darren O'Dea, who were struggling with hamstring and knee injuries respectively last week, also took part in the session.

Ireland head into the game having returned from their opening Group B fixture in Armenia on Friday evening with a 1-0 victory.

Keith Fahey came off the bench to fire his side to a narrow victory with his first senior goal for his country on his fourth appearance.

It has taken the 27-year-old Birmingham player, widely recognised as one of the richest talents to emerge from the League of Ireland in recent years, some time to win recognition on the big stage.

A year ago Trapattoni, whose continuing struggles to pronounce Fahey's name correctly remain a source of amusement within the camp, knew him only by reputation.

But the 71-year-old had enough faith in him to introduce him for the final 22 minutes of a game which was in danger of going against the Republic in Armenia, and his trust was rewarded in style.

That came as a confidence boost for a man who has not had as much football as he would have liked for his club so far this season, and he is hoping his exploits on the international front can fuel his attempts to take the next step in the Barclays Premier League.

Fahey said: "It gives me great confidence. It's good to think that I am in his (Trapattoni's] thoughts anyway.

"There are other players he could have put on in front of me, so when I got the shout, I was delighted to get on.

"With the internationals, there are more games, you are involved more and your name is out there more, more people notice you.

"But this season, I will be looking to improve and try to get the best out of myself because I don't think I have shown the best of me yet."

Asked if there would be changes to Ireland's line-up tomorrow following thhe opening victory, assistant boss Tardelli was coy.

He said: "I don't know. The boss will decide. The team played very well against Armenia, but everything is possible because also the other players are very fit."