April 28 (Daily Mail) -- THE puzzle of Paddy Kenny's absence from the Republic of Ireland squad was finally resolved yesterday -- the in-form QPR goalkeeper is unavailable for selection. According to Alan Kelly, the Irish goalkeeping coach, Kenny -- who completed a nine-month ban from football a year ago -- asked not to be considered for international duty at the start of the season.
Since then, Kenny has kept 23 clean sheets in 44 Championship games to help propel QPR to the brink of a Premier League return, sparking calls for an international return after a five-year gap.
But Kelly, like Kenny a former Sheffield United stalwart, yesterday shed a revealing light on Kenny's continued absence.
'We had a private conversation at the beginning of the season where he said he didn't want to be considered,' said Kelly.
'As far as I'm aware, he is still unavailable. I've not had a text from him to make himself available, so you'll have to ask him, it's not my question,' he added.
Asked would Kenny, 32, be selected if he changed his mind, Kelly smiled and said that was a hypothetical question. Kelly gave an upbeat progress report on the fitness of Shay Given, whom he expects to be on the bench for Manchester City in the FA Cup final on May 14.
'Shay is doing very well. I got a message from him the other day that he is back in full training. He's pushing the envelope and hopes to be fit for our games in May. I'll be very surprised if he's not on the bench for the FA Cup final,' he said.
Given, who had a shoulder operation three months ago after injuring himself in the warm-up for a Europa League tie in Greece, is expected to leave City at the end of the season.
'Shay is probably looking to go, and he will tell you that himself. Looking for first-team football is easier said than done, especially when goalkeepers are under contract,' said Kelly, who feels the crop of Irish goalkeepers is particularly strong.
'Keiren Westwood is out of contract, Joe Murphy too and right now we have a good stable of goalkeepers.
'The two lads who came in for last month's games, Darren Randolph, who is playing in the Scottish Cup final, and David Forde, I can't say how well they did.
'Brian Murphy is back from a broken leg, Colin Doyle played last week for Birmingham. We probably have eight or nine good keepers now,' he said. Even so, they may not quite be at the same level as Schalke's Manuel Neuer, whom Kelly watched approvingly against Manchester United in Tuesday night's Champions League tie. 'If he was auditioning for a move to Manchester United then I think he would have sealed it. He was absolutely fantastic,' purred Kelly. 'He really came to the fore in last year's World Cup.
'If it was me [managing United] then I would go after someone like him.'
Alan Kelly was speaking at the launch of the ninth annual Docklands Festival of Football. It continues until tomorrow and is open to 8-13-year-olds from the Dublin Docklands area.
Copyright (c) Associated Newspapers Ltd. 2011
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