Colgan earns international call-up - October 2, 2000 Hibernian goalkeeper Nicky Colgan has been called into the Ireland squad which is assembling to face Portugal and Estonia over the coming ten days. Ireland manager Mick McCarthy has lost the services of Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given, even though the Donegal man played at the weekend for his club against Manchester City. With Alan Kelly also struggling, McCarthy had to move to bring cover in for the goalkeeping position. It is expected that Kelly will play despite missing Blackburn's last three games. Kelly is suffering with a thigh strain but McCarthy has been assured by the Blackburn doctors that Kelly will be ready to face Portugal at the weekend. While the Blackburn backroom staff are confident of getting Kelly ready, another of the club's Irish contingent is definitely out. Midfielder Lee Carsley suffered a rib injury in Blackburn's Worthington Cup game against Portsmouth last Wednesday which has forced him out. If Kelly fails to make it, Dean Kiely will start as the last line of the defence for the Irish, in what is sure to prove a testing game. Portugal are good but at times they can be world beaters - so let's hope they have an off night against Ireland. Colgan's call-up is a reward for his brilliant start to the season with Hibernian in the Scottish Premier League. The 27-year-old has been instrumental in Hibs' high league position, keeping an astonishing seven clean sheets from their first ten league games. Things have not always run as smoothly for the Drogheda-born shot stopper. He began his time across the water with Chelsea but never even looked as if he would force his way into first-team action. He had loan spells at five different clubs before a disastrous move to Bournemouth and ultimately better times in Scotland with Hibernian.
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