THE MOST any sports fan can expect from the players or team they support is that they give it their all for the cause and use every last ounce of energy to reach their goal.

With this is mind, 'Inside Right' decided to put together a team of thoroughbred triers from the Premier League, guys you'd like to have on your side when a game turns into a real attritional battle.

Roy Keane would be the obvious example of the type of player we're looking for, but as we're limiting ourselves to the current crop he's not eligible for our adrenalin-fuelled side.

No room for fancy dans like Dimitar Berbatov in this lineup of gutsy lionhearts. No standing with your hands on hips, shaking your head as another pass goes astray from this lot, they'll compete for every tackle, run for every ball and never give up until the final whistle.

We'll start off in the obvious place - the goalkeeper. It's easy enough to whittle it down to two candidates for this one, Brad Friedel and Shay Given.

Both are outstanding netminders but Friedel just gets the nod for his consistently brilliant displays for Blackburn and now Aston Villa, and the 'don't mess with me' shaved-head look also helps to swing it in his favour.

Right-back was a tough choice with not too many standout candidates. We mulled over Stephen Carr, Phil Bardsley, Vedran Corluka and Gary Neville but eventually plumped for John O'Shea.

The versatile Waterford man may be a long way from the most exciting player in the Manchester United ranks but if it's dependable and dogged that you're looking for, he's the man.

Centre-back proved to be more straightforward - we mightn't have the hard men of old but there's still a few passionate, teaktough boys plying their trade in the top flight across the water, the likes of Nemanja Vidic, Matthew Upson, Jamie Carragher and Phil Jagielka. But our pairing are Richard Dunne and Michael Dawson, two players that won't be found wanting when it comes to a war.

At left-back we have someone that might surprise a few, Kevin Kilbane. He may not be the most talented player going, but one thing he doesn't lack is commitment and since our selection is based solely on fighting spirit the Irish international definitely has the right credentials.

On the right side of midfield we'll throw in a player who can be as frustrating as he is brilliant, Spurs' Aaron Lennon.

Sometimes his delivery mightn't be the best but on other occasions he's a real match-winner. One thing the winger will do is run all day, and he gets the nod ahead of the equally incessant Stephen Hunt.

In the middle of the park, Cesc Fabregas and Darren Fletcher were very much in the running for their influence on games but our central midfielders are Tim Cahill and Michael Essien. Definitely a partnership that you wouldn't get much change out of and would drive their team forward to the end.

Craig Bellamy gets his place on the left side of midfield because we couldn't leave the firey Welshman out of the equation. His temper may make him a bit of a liability at times, but he's definitely a player that you'd rather have with you than against you.

Up front Kevin Davies of Bolton and Kevin Doyle get honourable mentions but we'd have to go with Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez, two players with an abundance of skill but with the energy and will to win to match.

So there we go - Brad Friedel; John O'Shea, Richard Dunne, Michael Dawson, Kevin Kilbane; Aaron Lennon, Tim Cahill, Michael Essien, Craig Bellamy; Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez - they mightn't win every game they play but they wouldn't go down without one hell of a fight.

Unfortunately the opposition would be sure to target the weak link Kilbane at left-back. Next week yours truly will pick a team of fancy dans and with the amount of posers and mercenaries in action across the water, it should be a lot tougher to narrow it down to just eleven.

- Dace Devereux