Green gets Euro 2012 call, Bryson warms the bench

PAUL Green could yet achieve his dream of playing at a major international tournament after being drafted into the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2012 squad.

The midfielder was initially put on standby by national boss Giovanni Trapattoni but has now been called up as a replacement for the injured Keith Fahey.

Birmingham City's Fahey was ruled out by a groin problem after Ireland's 1-0 friendly victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Rams midfielder and player of the year Craig Bryson could only watch on from the bench as Scotland suffered a 5-1 defeat by the USA in Florida.

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Bryson was an unused substitute for the international friendly in Jacksonville, so was unable to add to his one cap so far.

It now looks like being a busy summer for Green, who is leaving Derby County after four years with the club when his contract expires at the end of June.

The 29-year-old is available on a Bosman free transfer after turning down the offer of a new deal with the Rams.

A number of Championship clubs have been linked with a move for Green, including Leeds United and Ipswich Town.

As well as sorting out his future at club level, the former Doncaster Rovers man will now also turn his attention to international matters.

Fahey's withdrawal from the squad was confirmed over the weekend by the Football Association of Ireland.

An FAI official said: "During the warm-ups on Saturday, Keith Fahey felt something not quite right. He was scanned following the match.

"The results of the scan unfortunately showed that his groin strain was persisting.

"The results were discussed with the player and he agreed that he would not recover fully in time for Euro 2012.

"As a result, he is departing from the squad and Paul Green is being called in."

Yorkshire-born Green qualifies to play for Ireland through his grandfather, who hails from County Mayo.

He was handed his international debut by Trapattoni in May 2010 and currently has 10 caps to his name, plus one goal. He featured in four of Ireland's Euro 2012 qualifiers, before suffering a serious knee injury in April 2011.

After returning to action, his form was rewarded by a substitute appearance in a friendly against the Czech Republic in February.

In an interview with the Derby Telegraph earlier this year, Green said that making the Euro 2012 squad would be the biggest achievement of his career.

Ireland's final warm-up match ahead of the Euros is against Hungary in Budapest next Monday.

The squad will then travel to Poland, where they will get their Group C campaign under way against Croatia in Poznan on Sunday, June 10.

Next up is a showdown against reigning World and European champions Spain in Gdansk on Thursday, June 14, before they take on Italy, back in Poznan, on Monday, June 18.

Green will face competition for a place in central midfield from the likes of Stoke City's Glenn Whelan, Everton's Darron Gibson and Keith Andrews of West Bromwich Albion.

Derby's young player of the year, Jeff Hendrick, plays for the Republic Ireland under-21s tonight as they face Denmark at Tallaght Stadium.

The friendly is a warm-up for next Monday's European Under-21 Championship qualifier against Italy.