Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy has named a 22-man squad for the friendly against Finland on November 15th with one new face in the line-up. Middlesbrough's central defender Jason Gavin is included in the squad for the first time. Gavin has played for the Under-21 side four times and has lined out for Boro five times so far this season. However, McCarthy intends to name the same team that played against Holland, Portugal and Estonia in the recent World Cup qualifying games. "It would be nice if I was able to start with the same team again but with so many league and European fixtures on the horizon, nothing can be guaranteed because of the possibility of injuries," he explained.
Recalled to the squad after missing the Portugal and Estonia games are Newcastle keeper Shay Given, Leeds defender Gary Kelly and Blackburn midfielder Lee Carsley while Hibernian keeper Nick Colgan, Stoke midfielder Graham Kavanagh and Middlesbrough defender Curtis Fleming have been excluded. Also out is Blackburn's Damien Duff who is struggling with a hamstring injury and has not played for his club for the past several weeks.
Manchester City's Mark Kennedy and Sporting Lisbon's Phil Babb were once again not considered for selection. The pair face a court appearance in Dublin just two days before the game against Finland after they were arrested in the city's Harcourt Street after a drunken incident prior to the opening World Cup qualifier against Holland in September.
A Kelly (Blackburn), Given (Newcastle Utd), Kiely (Charlton), G Kelly (Leeds), Carr (Tottenham), Staunton (Crystal Palace), Harte (Leeds United), Breen (Coventry), Dunne (Man City), Gavin (Middlesbrough), Roy Keane (Man Utd), Kinsella (Charlton), Carsley (Blackburn), McAteer (Blackburn), Holland (Ipswich), Kilbane (Sunderland), Finnan (Fulham), Delap (Derby), Quinn (Sunderland), Robbie Keane (Inter Milan), Connolly (Excelsior), Foley (Watford).
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
