There has been a welcome return for Stephen Carr and his clubmate Robbie Keane to the squad but as expected Roy Keane has not yet returned to the Irish fold.

Also, David Connolly will be making a return after he was omitted from the national squad in Greece in Athens last November.

Squad: Shay Given, Dean Kiely, Nicky Colgan, Ian Harte, Gary Breen, Gary Kelly, Kenny Cunningham, John O'Shea, Stephen Carr, Richard Dunne, Steve Finnan, Andy O'Brien, Matt Holland, Colin Healy, Mark Kinsella, Lee Carsley Rory Delap, Stephen McPhail, Mark Kennedy, Kevin Kilbane, Robbie Keane, Clinton Morrison, Damien Duff, Gary Doherty, David Connolly, Steven Reid.