Trapattoni names Ireland squad for Georgia
Credit:
Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has named his 25-man squad to face Georgia in a 2010 World Cup qualifier next month.
Despite speculation that Manchester City's Stephen Ireland was ready to end his self-imposed exile from the international setup, the midfielder was not named. Ireland last played for his country in September 2007.
Neither was there a place for Sunderland midfielder Andy Reid, who was dropped from the international squad following a disagreement with manager Trapattoni earlier in the campaign.
The Republic of Ireland face Georgia in their Group 8 qualifier at Croke Park on Wednesday, 11 February (kick off: 7.45pm).
Ireland currently lie second in the group, two points behind Italy, having won two and drawn one of their three matches so far. Georgia have managed just two points from their opening four matches and currently sit second from bottom.
The Ireland squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Shay Given (Newcastle United, Dean Kiely (West Brom), Keiren Westwood (Coventry City)
Defenders: Alex Bruce (Ipswich Town), Damien Delaney (QPR), John O'Shea (Manchester United), Kevin Foley (Wolves), Paul McShane (Sunderland), Richard Dunne (Manchester City), Stephen Kelly (Birmingham City), Steve Finnan (Espanyol), Kevin Kilbane (Hull City)
Midfielders: Aiden McGeady (Glasgow Celtic), Damien Duff (Newcastle United), Darron Gibson (Manchester United), Glenn Whelan (Stoke City), Keith Andrews (Blackburn Rovers), Liam Miller (QPR), Stephen Hunt (Reading), Andy Keogh (Wolves)
Forwards: Caleb Folan (Hull City), Kevin Doyle (Reading), Robbie Keane (Liverpool), Shane Long (Reading), Noel Hunt (Reading)
