Manchester United captain Roy Keane and Wimbledon's Mark Kennedy have been forced to withdraw from the Irish squad for next week's friendly international with Denmark at Landsdowne Road. Keane pulled out of the squad because of the hip injured which forced him to miss United's Champions League match with Boavista. Kennedy has withdrawn because of a groin injury. Mick McCarthy's squad is down to 23 after the two defections.
McCarthy confirmed: "After our 2-0 victory over Russia in Dublin last month, this match against the Danes gives me a very good opportunity to look at the panel before naming those 23 players who will be making the journey to Japan and South Korea this Summer. Naturally I'm disappointed that both Keane and Kennedy are not available on this occasion because of injuries. Better for them to have those problems now than next May when we depart for Tokyo. I didn't see any point in calling up any further players to the squad as I still have 23 and I know they will all be out to prove something to me."
Filed by Shane Murray
