Irish Under-20 squad for friendlies announced
Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr has named a squad of 20 players for a pre-World Cup U20 finals tournament in Abu Dhabi from January 20 to January 24 next.
The Republic will play France, Korea and the United Arab Emirates in what is being classified as a 'dry run' for the finals which will take place in the UAE at the end of March.
Kerr has included Eamon Zayed from Bray Wanderers in his squad.
There are five players who did not figure in the final qualifying tournament for these finals in Norway last July - Zayed, Glen Whelan (Manchester City), Darren Potter (Liverpool), Willo Flood (Manchester City) and Conor Gethins (Ross County).
Whelan played in the qualifying match against the Netherlands but missed the finals because of injury while a shoulder injury also prevented Gethins from travelling to Norway.
Liverpool’s Darren Potter missed out in the finals while Willo Flood has been promoted for this tournament from the U18 team.
There is a slight doubt about Sunderland’s Mark Rossiter being fit to travel at the end of the month.
He came on as a substitute for Sunderland in their English Cup tie with Bolton Wanderers on Saturday but picked up an injury and had to be replaced.
“There is a doubt about Mark and I am waiting for word from Sunderland regarding his fitness,” admitted Kerr.
“We still have a few days left before we travel so there is a chance he could still make the trip.
The Republic will play Korea on Monday, January 20 and will meet the United Arab Emirates two days later .
Their final game will be against France on Friday, January 23.
Full Irish squad is:
Wayne Henderson (Aston Villa), Brian Murphy (Man City), Stephen Brennan (Newcastle Utd), Stephen Paisley (Man City), Stephen Capper (Sunderland), Patrick McCarthy (Boston Utd), Mark Rossiter (Sunderland), Stephen Kelly (Tottenham), Adrian Deane (Charlton Ath), Glen Whelan (Man City), Michael Foley (Liverpool), Darren Potter (Liverpool), Sean Thornton (Sunderland), Graham Ward (Wolves), Jonathon Daly (Stockport Co), Eamon Zayed (Bray Wdrs), Stephen Elliott (Man City), Liam Kearney (Notts Forest), Willo Flood (Man City), Conor Gethins (Ross Co).
