Squad announced for Italy clash

**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.

**drinkfeckarse** · 08/08/2005, 3:16 PM

Thought the Honey Monster was injured and out for a few months with his foot

**KK77** · 08/08/2005, 3:21 PM

Why no Roy Keane?

**Sliog�n D�ite** · 08/08/2005, 3:25 PM

Roy Keane doesn't do friendlies.........well,usually not...

**tetsujin1979** · 08/08/2005, 3:35 PM

No real shocks there, apart from Roy missing out, AFAIK Dunne will not be fit, so expect McCarthy to get a call up, Cunningham isn't 100% either

**Stuttgart88** · 08/08/2005, 4:07 PM

Colgan. Waste of a squad place that could go to someone needing experience like Stephen Kelly. Big Jack used only ever use 2 'keepers.

**supasparx** · 08/08/2005, 4:15 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Colgan. Waste of a squad place that could go to someone needing experience like Stephen Kelly. Big Jack used only ever use 2 'keepers.

Or McGeady, surely he's worthy of a 'friendly squad'

**jbyrne** · 08/08/2005, 4:49 PM

Originally Posted by supasparx

Or McGeady, surely he's worthy of a 'friendly squad'

it pains me to say it but i think mcGeady has gone backwards recently. hopefully its only short term

**eirebhoy** · 08/08/2005, 4:52 PM

Originally Posted by jbyrne

it pains me to say it but i think mcGeady has gone backwards recently. hopefully its only short term

Agreed, McGeady has been poor since Christmas.

**NeilMcD** · 08/08/2005, 5:39 PM

It looks like Harte has kept Maybury out of the squad. Hopefully if we qualify Stephen Kelly will push for a squad place with the friendlies next year.