Celtic midfelder Colin Healy and Millwall striker Richard Sadlier have both been named in Mick McCarthy's Republic of Ireland squad to face Russia in a friendly at Lansdowne Road on February 13. McCarthy has named a 24-man squad ahead of the clash with Healy - currently on loan with Coventry City - and Sadlier the only uncapped players in the group, although both have been capped at Under-21 level. Four players - Stephen Carr, Mark Kinsella, Rory Delap and David Connolly - have been ruled out through injury.
"Since coming back after a lengthy spell with injuries, Sadlier has done very well for Millwall this season and he has scored 17 goals for his club," pointed out McCarthy. "I watched Colin Healy in action for Coventry against Crystal Palace last week and he did very well for his side," he added.
Sadlier expresssed his delight in the wake of his call-up and said it would be a dream come true if he made the World Cup squad: “I’m very excited and I’m delighted to be in the squad. I just hope I do enough to be asked back. I would love to go to the World Cup. I watched the qualifying games in an English pub and it wasn’t the same,” he said, before adding “it will depend how I do in the friendly whether I get called back, but obviously it would be a dream.”
McCarthy also gave the fringe members of his squad and those who are currently injured some hope of still making the World Cup finals in Japan and South Korea when he indicated that he has not yet made up his mind on everyone he will be taking to the Far East. "At the minute I know the bulk of my 23-man squad which will travel to Japan in May. But there is still time for players to stake their claims in the next four games," he said.
Irish squad: Given (Newcastle), Kiely (Charlton), A Kelly (Blackburn), Finnan (Fulham), G Kelly (Leeds), Breen (Coventry), Cunningham (Wimbledon), Dunne (Man City), Staunton (Aston Villa), O'Brien (Newcastle), Harte (Leeds), McAteer (Sunderland), Roy Keane (Man Utd), Holland (Ipswich), Kennedy (Wolves), Kilbane (Sunderland), Reid (Millwall), Carsley (Coventry), Healy (Coventry), Quinn (Sunderland), Morrison (Crystal Palace), Sadlier (Millwall), Robbie Keane (Leeds), Duff (Blackburn).
Filed by Amanda Fennelly & Tom Grealis
