Trap announces squad for Greece encounter

Giovanni Trapattoni has named a largely predictable 26 man squad for the upcoming friendly with Greece on November 14 at the Aviva Stadium, with, as expected, former Shelbourne star Wes Hoolahan included in a group that has nine former League of Ireland players.

In his first media appearance since the “job saving” win over the Faroe Islands, Trapattoni has named two uncapped players in Shane Duffy and Conor Clifford but the big news was the inclusion of Norwich City’s Hoolahan.

The squad will be trimmed to 23 players before they meet up in Dublin on November 11, but Trap confirmed that Hoolahan will be given at least 45 minutes against the Greeks.

In the wake of his “constructive” meeting with John Delaney after the Faroes game, Trapattoni switched off his DVD player and headed off to Carrow Road to watch Norwich v Arsenal and in particular Hoolahan.

This was followed up with a trip to the Britannia last Saturday to watch Stoke v Sunderland, with several squad members on show during a scoreless draw.

Hoolahan, now aged 30, has made over 250 senior appearances for Norwich, Blackpool and Livingston since leaving Shelbourne in 2006 and has found the net on 40 occasions along the way.

His one and only appearance in a green jersey came in a friendly at Craven Cottage as a second half substitute against Colombia over four years ago.

The “workmanlike and professional” meeting with Delaney seems to have forced Trapattoni into action. When asked if he felt undermined by the FAI’s decision to impose certain conditions on him, Trapattoni replied “No, to have these suggestions doesn’t take away my authority over the team”

Elsewhere in the squad, Kevin Doyle returns following his recent absence through injury and is back in goalscoring form, hitting a brace against Bolton Wanderers last week. James McClean also returns having missed the Germany and Faroes games through injury.

The most notable absentee is Robbie Keane, who will remain in LA, and Shane Long is currently carrying a groin injury but may be involved for West Brom at the weekend. Richard Dunne remains out.

There is no place for Hoolahan’s Norwich teammate Anthony Pilkington.

Republic of Ireland provsional squad to face Greece in friendly at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, on November 14: Westwood (Sunderland), Forde (Millwall), Randolph (Motherwell), Coleman (Everton), O’Shea (Sunderland), O’Dea (Toronto), Kelly (Fulham), McShane (Hull), Ward (Wolves), Duffy (Everton), Clark (Aston Villa), Delaney (Crystal Palace), Andrews (Bolton), McCarthy (Wigan), Fahey (Birmingham), Meyler (Sunderland), Whelan (Stoke), Clifford (Chelsea), Keogh (Millwall), McGeady (Spartak Moscow), McClean (Sunderland), Brady (Man Utd), Hoolahan (Norwich), Doyle (Wolves), Cox (Nottm Forest), Walters (Stoke).