RTÉ PUNDIT EAMON Dunphy has criticised Damien Delaney’s absence from Martin O’Neill’s latest Ireland squad.

Speaking on 2fm’s Game On show, Dunphy said that the Crystal Palace defender’s absence from the 40-man panel is “wrong” and added that he was impressed with Delaney’s performance in the FA Cup quarter-final against Reading on Friday night.

“It’s wrong!” Dunphy said. “This guy’s playing in the Premier League. He’s a very good player. He’s been in the Premier League all year.

“We have Paul McShane, who’s playing for Reading, who’s really not a very good defender.

“The guy at Derby County, (Richard) Keogh, is really not a very good defender — he’s had a couple of nightmares.

And we’ve got a Premier League player and we’re not even putting him on the plane?”

Dunphy suggested Delaney — who announced his international retirement last year — was being ostracised from the squad due to disagreements with the management.

“It’s not right for the fans, it’s not right for the other players, this guy should be in the team really, and he should certainly be in the squad.

Just because he had some difference or misunderstanding with Martin O’Neill it is not right that the Irish team should be deprived of a player, because of personal differences.

“It should not be happening. This guy’s top class. We don’t have any Premier League defenders apart from John O’Shea. The other guy from Stoke (Marc Wilson) is injured.”

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