sligoman
08/08/2005, 2:48 PM
Brian Kerr has announced a 23-man squad for the friendly with Italy at Lansdowne Road on Wednesday week.
Steve Finnan, Gary Breen and Richard Dunne, who missed the World Cup qualifiers against Israel and Faroe Islands, return after injury.
Robbie Keane and Andy O'Brien, who missed the Faroes game through injury and suspension respectively, also return to the fold. Midfielder Roy Keane does not feature in the squad.
Kerr sees the game as the perfect warm-up ahead of bigger tests in the autumn.
The Dubliner said: 'This game, against one of the aristocrats of international football, will provide ideal preparation for the important World Cup qualifiers against France, Cyprus and Switzerland over the next two months.'
The team will assemble in Dublin on Sunday afternoon in preparation for the clash with the Italians.
Ireland (v Italy): Given, Kenny, Colgan, Cunningham, Breen, O'Brien, O'Shea, Carr, Harte, Finnan, Dunne, S Reid, Miller, Holland, Kavanagh, Kilbane, A Reid, Quinn, Duff, Doherty, Elliot, Morrison, Robbie Keane.
Steve Finnan, Gary Breen and Richard Dunne, who missed the World Cup qualifiers against Israel and Faroe Islands, return after injury.
Robbie Keane and Andy O'Brien, who missed the Faroes game through injury and suspension respectively, also return to the fold. Midfielder Roy Keane does not feature in the squad.
Kerr sees the game as the perfect warm-up ahead of bigger tests in the autumn.
The Dubliner said: 'This game, against one of the aristocrats of international football, will provide ideal preparation for the important World Cup qualifiers against France, Cyprus and Switzerland over the next two months.'
The team will assemble in Dublin on Sunday afternoon in preparation for the clash with the Italians.
Ireland (v Italy): Given, Kenny, Colgan, Cunningham, Breen, O'Brien, O'Shea, Carr, Harte, Finnan, Dunne, S Reid, Miller, Holland, Kavanagh, Kilbane, A Reid, Quinn, Duff, Doherty, Elliot, Morrison, Robbie Keane.