IRELAND COACH MARTIN O’NEILL has named a 32-man squad for Ireland’s four summer friendlies and only two of that number have not been capped.
Squad mainstays John O’Shea, Glenn Whelan and Robbie Keane are all included, as are the Everton quartet of James McCarthy, Seamus Coleman, Aiden McGeady and Shane Duffy [currently out on loan]. Duffy and Newcastle goalkeeper are both uncapped but have been included in previous squads.
Kevin Doyle is included in the forwards named, as is Conor Sammon and Simon Cox, but Stephen Ireland and Darron Gibson miss out on midfield berths. The squad’s youngest players are Duffy and Jeff Hendrick [Derby County], both of whom turned 22 in January.
O’Neill is currently holding a press briefing at FAI headquarters in Abbottstown and will give further details on his selection process, players omitted and who will captain his side.
He commented, “These four games will provide us with great preparation for our first European qualifier against Georgia in September. I have enjoyed working with the players to date, and intend to use this extended period with them in May and June to give me the opportunity to experiment and familiarise myself with the squad further.”
Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: Forde, Randolph, Elliot.Defenders: R Keogh, Wilson, Coleman, O’Shea, Pearce, Kelly, Delaney, J O’Brien, Duffy, Clark, Ward.Midfielders: McCarthy, Hendrick, Whelan, Green, McGeady, Pilkington, McClean, Quinn, Meyler, Hoolahan.Forwards: Keane, Long, D Murphy, Walters, Doyle, Stokes, Cox, Sammon.
IRELAND FIXTURES: v Turkey on 25 May in Aviva Stadium, v Italy on 31 May in Craven Cottage, London, v Costa Rica on 6 June in PPL Stadium and v Portugal on 10 June in Metlife Stadium, New Jersey.
