MARTIN O’NEILL HAS picked an extended 34-man squad to face Denmark in next month’s World Cup play-off.
Having finished second in Group D, Ireland progressed to a two-legged tie for a spot at next year’s finals in Russia.
The Boys in Green travel to Copenhagen for the first leg on Saturday, 11 November, before the return at the Aviva Stadium three days later.
Burnley forward Jon Walters is the main absentee — missing out with a knee problem — along with Seamus Coleman, who continues his recovery from a double leg-break.
O’Neill has not ruled the 34-year-old out completely, however.
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“I haven’t put him in this squad at the moment, but he’s making very good progress and we’ll see what the next 10 days might bring,” said O’Neill. “I have been speaking to him so we’ll see.”
On Coleman, he added: “It has just come to early for Seamus. Had the play-off been in a month’s time, perhaps we would have been looking at a different story.”
Hull City’s David Meyler, who captained the team in the last two games, has picked up a one-match suspension, but there is good news elsewhere as James McCarthy is included after featuring for Everton in the Carabao Cup last night.
The midfielder, making his first competitive appearance since March, got through 64 minutes before being substituted by caretaker manager David Unsworth.
“I was at the game [last night], and I’m pleased,” O’Neill said of McCarthy. “He played for an hour and it’s a good hour for him against very good opposition. He hasn’t played for some time but I think he has got an U23 game [coming up] also.
“It’s good that he got through last night, so that’s encouraging and we’ll see if he comes out of it okay.”
Republic of Ireland Squad
Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (Middlesbrough), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday), Rob Elliot (Newcastle United), Colin Doyle (Bradford City)
Defenders: Cyrus Christie (Middlesbrough), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Paul McShane (Reading), Richard Keogh (Derby County), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ciaran Clark (Newcastle United), John O’Shea (Sunderland), Kevin Long, Stephen Ward (Burnley)
Midfielders: Aiden McGeady (Sunderland), Daryl Horgan, Alan Browne (Preston North End), Glenn Whelan, Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Harry Arter (Bournemouth), James McCarthy (Everton), Robbie Brady, Jeff Hendrick (Burnley), Eunan O’Kane (Leeds United), David Meyler (Hull City), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City), Jonny Hayes (Celtic), James McClean (West Bromwich Albion)
Forwards: Shane Long (Southampton), Daryl Murphy (Nottingham Forest), David McGoldrick (Ipswich Town), Sean Maguire (Preston North End), Scott Hogan (Aston Villa), Aiden O’Brien (Millwall)
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No Walters as Ireland squad to face Denmark in World Cup play-off announced
MARTIN O’NEILL HAS picked an extended 34-man squad to face Denmark in next month’s World Cup play-off.
Having finished second in Group D, Ireland progressed to a two-legged tie for a spot at next year’s finals in Russia.
The Boys in Green travel to Copenhagen for the first leg on Saturday, 11 November, before the return at the Aviva Stadium three days later.
Burnley forward Jon Walters is the main absentee — missing out with a knee problem — along with Seamus Coleman, who continues his recovery from a double leg-break.
O’Neill has not ruled the 34-year-old out completely, however.
“I haven’t put him in this squad at the moment, but he’s making very good progress and we’ll see what the next 10 days might bring,” said O’Neill. “I have been speaking to him so we’ll see.”
Hull City’s David Meyler, who captained the team in the last two games, has picked up a one-match suspension, but there is good news elsewhere as James McCarthy is included after featuring for Everton in the Carabao Cup last night.
The midfielder, making his first competitive appearance since March, got through 64 minutes before being substituted by caretaker manager David Unsworth.
“I was at the game [last night], and I’m pleased,” O’Neill said of McCarthy. “He played for an hour and it’s a good hour for him against very good opposition. He hasn’t played for some time but I think he has got an U23 game [coming up] also.
“It’s good that he got through last night, so that’s encouraging and we’ll see if he comes out of it okay.”
Republic of Ireland Squad
Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (Middlesbrough), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday), Rob Elliot (Newcastle United), Colin Doyle (Bradford City)
Defenders: Cyrus Christie (Middlesbrough), Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Paul McShane (Reading), Richard Keogh (Derby County), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ciaran Clark (Newcastle United), John O’Shea (Sunderland), Kevin Long, Stephen Ward (Burnley)
Midfielders: Aiden McGeady (Sunderland), Daryl Horgan, Alan Browne (Preston North End), Glenn Whelan, Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Harry Arter (Bournemouth), James McCarthy (Everton), Robbie Brady, Jeff Hendrick (Burnley), Eunan O’Kane (Leeds United), David Meyler (Hull City), Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City), Jonny Hayes (Celtic), James McClean (West Bromwich Albion)
Forwards: Shane Long (Southampton), Daryl Murphy (Nottingham Forest), David McGoldrick (Ipswich Town), Sean Maguire (Preston North End), Scott Hogan (Aston Villa), Aiden O’Brien (Millwall)
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