| But Folan gamble flops
 By
David Thorpe
STEVE STAUNTON shocked Irish supporters last week by naming Wigan striker
Caleb Folan in his squad for Saturday’s vital clash with Wales. However
the manager’s latest gamble came to nought when the latest Irish hope
picked up an injury at the weekend against Fulham.
But fans of the Boys in Green are still asking why he was there and who
is he?
Known to his friends as ‘raging bull’ the 24-year-old collected
his Irish passport just 24 hours before his international call-up.
Folan qualifies to play for the Boys in Green through his maternal grandparents,
who hail from Galway and Inis Mor on the Aran Islands.
After announcing Folan would be included in the squad to face Wales Staunton
said: “There was some doubt that the documents would arrive on time,
but I wanted to include him in the squad. He is a good lad with plenty of
ability and this shows that new players will always be given their chance.”
Caleb was included in the squad at the main expense of Crystal Palace’s
Clinton Morrison and Staunton says he was included to add physical presence
to the squad.
Celtic’s young centre-half Darren O’Dea was also called up for
the first time.
Explaining his decision to overlook other Irish strikers Staunton said:
“We have quite a few options in the striker department at the moment,
but I felt that Caleb offers different options to the rest, he is strong
and good in the air.”
Folan has hit the headlines for Wigan in recent weeks scoring goals in the
Premiership against Watford and Manchester City as the Latics have eased
away from the Premiership’s relegation places.
His displays prompted his manager Paul Jewell to declare that “it
was the best £500,000 I have ever spent”, when he signed Folan
from Chesterfield after watching the young striker hit eight goals in 17
games for the League One side.
The ‘Raging Bull’ only joined Jewell’s side in the January
transfer window and has been vital to Wigan’s upturn in fortunes.
Due to Folan’s injury Steve Staunton has been forced to call-up Wolves
frontman Andy Keogh as a last-minute replacement. This means that Crystal
Palace striker Morrison is now at best sixth-choice for the Republic as
Staunton aims to improve Ireland’s unimpressive goal difference.
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