Kerr hands Connolly recall
27/09/2005 - 16:30:23
http://breaking.tcm.ie/2005/09/27/story222762.html
Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr today ended David Connolly’s exile from international football.
Connolly, 28, has been named in a 24-man squad to face Cyprus and Switzerland in critical World Cup qualifiers next month.
Despite 40 caps to his name, Connolly has not played for Ireland since the country’s devastating 2-0 European Championship qualifying defeat to Switzerland in October 2003.
The Wigan forward was effectively one of the fall guys for Ireland’s failure to reach the subsequent finals in Portugal, earning his last call-up just under a year ago, only to withdraw through injury.
But following a recent £2m deadline-day move from Leicester, Connolly is in form as he has scored five goals in his first six matches this season to earn himself the recall.
Kerr is without the suspended Clinton Morrison for the game against Cyprus in Nicosia, while Tottenham’s Robbie Keane and Sunderland’s Stephen Elliott are both short of goals and match-time this season.
Connolly recently expressed his disappointment at failing to figure in Kerr’s World Cup plans this campaign, and the Ireland manager responded: “Players always feel hard done by if they are not in the squad.
“But he has always been in our thoughts because he is an experienced international player.
“He had a decent season last year with Leicester, and I have seen him in action for both Leicester and Wigan this season.
“I have good reports on him because he has made a bright start and he looks like his old self.”
Kerr has also handed a debut squad appearance for Reading’s Kevin Doyle, who has made a superb impact for the Royals in the Coca-Cola Championship this season following his recent £80,000 move from Cork City.
“I’ve watched Kevin at various levels, including for the Under-21s, and I’ve seen him this season for Reading,” added Kerr.
“He has maintained a high level of performance and I am obviously serious about bringing him in.
“We don’t have too many centre-forwards in the squad, and as to whether he plays, I will see how he does in the next couple of matches for Reading.”
Morrison is joined on the suspension list for the Cypriot clash by Tottenham winger Andy Reid, while more crucially there is no Roy Keane as the Manchester United midfielder misses both games after breaking a metatarsal bone in his left foot recently.
Republic of Ireland squad to face Cyprus and Switzerland in World Cup Group Four qualifying matches on October 8 and 12:
Given (Newcastle), Kenny (Sheffield United), Colgan (Barnsley), Cunningham (Birmingham), Breen (Sunderland), O’Brien (Portsmouth), Dunn (Manchester City), Carr (Newcastle), Hart (Levante), S Reid (Blackburn), O’Shea, Miller (both Manchester United), Finnan (Liverpool), A Reid (Tottenham), Holland (Charlton), Kilbane (Everton), Kavanagh, Connolly (both Wigan), Duff (Chelsea), Doherty (Norwich), Elliott (Sunderland), Doyle (Reading), Robbie Keane (Tottenham), Morrison (Crystal Palace).
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