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Manager Brian Kerr
has named 24 players for the two European zone Group Four matches. Andy
Reid and Clinton Morrison are suspended for the first match against
Cyprus in Nicosia on October 8, but are eligible to face Switzerland in
Dublin four days later. Reading's under-21 international Kevin Doyle is
included in the senior squad for the first time, though Ireland will be
without skipper Roy Keane after he broke a bone in his foot playing for
Manchester United against Liverpool on September 18. Wigan Athletic's
David Connolly could play his first international for two years after
being named in the Irish squad. He last played for Ireland in a 2-0
defeat by Switzerland in a European Championship qualifier in October
2003 and although he was called up a year ago, injury kept him out of
the side then. Ireland will almost certainly require two wins from its
last two qualifiers and a dose of luck to reach its fourth World Cup
finals. Switzerland and France lead Group 4 with 16 points, three in
front of Ireland and one ahead of Israel, which has played one more
match.
R.Ireland: manager Brian Kerr
Goalkeepers: Shay Given (Newcastle United), Paddy Kenny
(Sheffield United), Nicky Colgan (Barnsley)
Defenders: Kenny Cunningham (Birmingham City), Gary Breen
(Sunderland), Andy O'Brien (Portsmouth), Richard Dunne (Manchester
City), John O'Shea (Manchester United), Stephen Carr (Newcastle United),
Ian Harte (Levante), Steve Finnan (Liverpool)
Midfielders: Stephen Reid (Blackburn Rovers), Liam Miller
(Manchester United), Matt Holland (Charlton Athletic), Graham Kavanagh
(Wigan Athletic), Kevin Kilbane (Everton), Gary Doherty (Norwich City),
Andy Reid (Tottenham Hotspur), Damien Duff (Chelsea)
Forwards: Stephen Elliott (Sunderland), Kevin Doyle (Reading),
David Connolly (Wigan Athletic), Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur),
Clinton Morrison (Crystal Palace).
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