Gibson returns as King unveils Ireland squad

DARRON Gibson has ended his international exile, while caretaker Noel King has recalled Andy Reid, Kevin Doyle and Anthony Stokes to the Republic of Ireland squad for this month's World Cup qualifiers against Germany and Kazakhstan.

King today named a provisional 26-man panel for the double header and it was the return of absent friends that dominated King's press briefing at FAI headquarters in Abbotstown this afternoon.

The Dubliner takes the reigns for the games against Germany in Köln on Friday-week, October 11, and the Aviva Stadium clash with Kazakhstan on October 15.

With the FAI still searching for a successor to Giovanni Trapattoni, Under 21 boss King was drafted in last week as the interim manager.

Confirmation that the Trap era is done and dusted arrived with the inclusion of Gibson, Reid, Doyle and Stokes on the roster again.

Gibson has not played for Ireland since before Euro 2012. The Derryman was on the panel for the European Championships, but the Everton midfielder refused to play for Trapattoni after being an unused sub in all thee games.

Gibson was called for subsequent, but refused the offer.

Now, though, the 25-year old is set to return.

"I spoke to him, he was dead keen to come back so it seemed an obvious and easy one to bring back in," King said. 

King does not expect any frosty tensions between Gibson and Paul Green, the player preferred by Trapattoni at the Euros, who has also been included.

He said: "I wasn't involved in what went on. It's a clean slate going forward. 

"When I meet the players I won't be discussing their ailments in the past; it will be about how we can achieve in the next two games. It will be positive and forward-looking."

Andy Reid is set to add to his 27 caps, with the in-form Nottingham Forest winger recalled for the first time in five years. Reid has not played since his infamous fall-out with Trapattoni in Germany in 2008, following the 2-1 win over Georgia in Mainz.

King will speak with Reid this evening, having not had the chance in a rushed week since his appointment was confirmed just last week.

King has given a recall to Celtic striker Stokes, a player who he has worked with at Under 21 level.

Stokes felt Trapattoni's wrath after he pulled out of a panel for the Carling Nations Cup in 2011.

After Stokes cited fatigue as the reason for his no-show, he was blasted by the Italian, who laid into the player, saying: "If they are in hospital or they are dead, that is okay, but if there is an injury they should see our doctor."

The olive branch handed by King has been accepted by his fellow Dubliner.

King said: "He is playing fantastically well, particularly in Europe and Europe is akin to international football. 

"I know him from his under 21s and he seems to be progressing all the time at Celtic."

Doyle fell out of favour with Trapattoni, having previously been one of the teacher's pets in the Italian's classroom.

He was last in the squad in March this year, though that was only as a very late call-up for the home game against Austria and he was unused. 

Despite dropping to League One with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Doyle is included ahead of Simon Cox and Conor Sammon, while there is also no place this time for Andy Keogh, David Meyler or Darren O'Dea.

King said: "Kevin has a great passion for the country. I seen him at Wolves quite a bit. He loves playing for Ireland; there is no question about that. 

"These players were picked with one thing in mind: to try and prepare to get two victories. He could add to us in that situation."

Despite John O'Shea and Richard Dunne serving suspension in the German game, there is no place for Metalurh Donetsk player O'Dea.

"It's not nice and he probably doesn't like me now, but that's just the way it is," King said of his exclusion.

Consideration was given to and contact was made with Stephen Ireland and, while the Stoke City player didn't wish to be included now, he indicated that he was open to a return in the future.

O'Shea and Dunne will be added to the squad for the game against Kazakhstan, while there are serious doubts over the fitness of both Robbie Brady and Jonathan Walters.

In the event that either or both are ruled out, there will be no replacement call-ups.

Republic of Ireland Squad: 

Forde, Westwood, Randolph, OBrien, St Ledger, Wilson, Coleman, Kelly, Clark, McShane, Gibson, Whelan, McCarthy, Green, Reid, McGeady, Pilkington, McClean, Brady, Quinn, Hoolahan, Long, Keane, Walters, Doyle, Stokes.