Sunderland skipper Gary Breen has been named in the Republic of Ireland squad to face Bulgaria a week on Wednesday.
RoI gaffer Brian Kerr named a 23 man senior squad but Breen is the only current Sunderland player in the squad – there still seems to be no room for Sean Thornton to make his mark in the senior team.
The game will be the side’s last warm-up match before the World Cup qualifier against Cyprus on Saturday 4th September.
Damien Duff, Robbie Keane and Stephen Reid are omitted through injury and Kerr has also left out Ian Harte and Richard Dunne.
Eight of the squad have never played a competitive match for the Republic, but Kerr is confident the squad he’s named can do the business, although he says he hopes that Keane and Duff will be fit in time for the Cyprus game.
“There’s nearly four weeks to go and Robbie is very positive himself. Damien is doing well and just wants to play a few games to get over any fears he might have.”
The full squad is:
Given (Newcastle United), Colgan (Barnsley), Kenny (Sheffield United), Finnan (Liverpool), Cunningham (Birmingham City), O’Brien (Newcastle United), Maybury (Hearts), O’Shea (Manchester United), Carr (Tottenham Hotspur), Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Breen (Sunderland), Miller (Manchester United), Quinn (Sheffield United), Keane (Manchester United), Holland (Charlton Athletic), Kavanagh (Cardiff City), Reid (Nottingham Forest), Barrett (Coventry City), Kilbane (Everton), Duff (Chelsea), Lee (Cardiff City), Morrison (Birmingham City), Connolly (Leicester City).
