Givens ready to begin rebuilding work

Graham Barrett is determined to establish himself as a Premiership and international striker – even though he faces the daunting task of trying to rank alongside the likes of Thierry Henry at Arsenal and Robbie Keane for the Republic of Ireland.

The Gunner – on loan at Brighton and Hove Albion – equalled Alan Mahon's Republic record of 20 appearances for the Under-21 side here on Tuesday, but it was an experience he will want to forget quickly after an embarrassing 1-0 loss to Albania.

It prompted the Under-21 manager Don Givens to say the time was right to start shifting some of the current members of the team and bring through the next batch of youngsters.

Barrett – who has one senior cap to his name – is unlikely to be discarded, and believes he can establish himself for club and country. "Don will make the decisions he feels are right, but hopefully it won't affect me and I can push on," he said. "I believe I can play at the next level and in the next few months I want to push on from here.

"I was with the seniors again on this trip until Robbie Keane came out and it is great to be involved with those players. I want to be involved with them all the time.

"The only way to do that is to keep your head down and keep playing well. Everyone wants to play for their country at senior level and I am no different.

"I have had an offer from Arsenal but I will consider that in the summer. For now, I want to get the rest of the season out of the way and hopefully avoid relegation with Brighton.

"Arsenal have some great strikers but you don't get anywhere by going out and thinking you are not as good as these guys. Robbie and Damien Duff are an example to all of us, they have come through and are world-class now, and as a forward I look up to them and learn from them. I want to be where they are and I won't stop until I am."

The Irish have now lost three of their four qualifying matches in Group 10, drawing the other, and fresh young faces are set to be brought in for the next game.

"There will be decisions made now in so much as maybe this squad will get a bit younger for the next match," Givens said. "Maybe we need to start working with the next group a little bit earlier than I envisaged.

"The performances by certain players tell you that they have little or no chance of moving on to Brian Kerr, and as soon as that happens they have to get off the belt and we get the next person on there."