Keane still missing for Ireland
Friday, January 31, 2003
Article summary
New Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr has named his first squad but has not included Roy Keane.
Article body
Glasgow date
Kerr, who was appointed earlier this week as the successor to Mick McCarthy, has named an experienced 26-man pool for the friendly against Scotland in Glasgow on 12 February. Still missing, though, is Keane, the Manchester United FC midfield player who retired from international football after falling out with McCarthy prior to the FIFA World Cup finals last summer.
'I will deal with it'
When asked to comment on Keane's omission, Kerr - who has appointed Tottenham Hotspur FC first-team coach Chris Hughton and Noel O'Riley, his former youth-team No2, as his new assistants - promised to address the matter. He said: "I will deal with it in my own way but won't discuss the matter at the moment. It is best in the interests of Irish football, the squad and the player himself that I adopt that attitude."
Duff included
Blackburn Rovers FC winger Damien Duff has been included despite suffering from hamstring trouble in recent weeks as has Tottenham Hotspur FC forward Robbie Keane, despite his substitution in the midweek match against Newcastle United FC after picking up a knock.
Republic of Ireland squad
Given, Kiely, Colgan, Harte, Breen, Kelly, Cunningham, O’Shea, Carr, Dunne, Finnan, O’Brien, Holland, Healy, Kinsella, Carsley, Delap, McPhail, Kennedy, Kilbane, Keane, Morrison, Duff, Doherty, Connolly, Reid.
