Republic of Ireland youth manager Brian Kerr has named a twenty man for the pre-World Cup U20s final tournament in Abu Dhabi from January 20 to January 24.
The Republic of Ireland will play France, Korea and the United Arab Emerates {UAE} in what is being considered a 'dry run' for the finals which will take place in the UAE, starting March 25, ending on April 16.
Eamon Zayed has received his call up to the U20 Irish squad from struggling Bray Wanderers – Wanderers have won just 4 from their 24 games played with just 18 points to show for their troubles.
The are in total five new faces who did not figure in the final qualifying tournament for these finals in Norway last July - Eamon Zayed {Bray}, Glen Whelan {Man City}, Darren Potter {Liverpool}, Willo Flood {Man City} and Conor Gethins (Ross County). The Republic of Ireland U20s will play Korea on Monday January 20 and the UAE on the 22nd. Our final game will be take place on Friday January 23 against France.
Republic of Ireland U20 Squad
Wayne Henderson (Aston Villa), Brian Murphy (Manchester City), Stephen Brennan (Newcastle), Stephen Paisley (Manchester City), Stephen Capper (Sunderland), Patrick McCarthy (Boston United), Mark Rossiter (Sunderland), Stephen Kelly (Tottenham Hotspur), Adrian Deane (Charlton Athletic), Glen Whelan (Manchester City), Michael Foley (Liverpool), Darren Potter (Liverpool), Sean Thornton (Sunderland), Graham Ward (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Jonathan Daly (Stockport County), Eamon Zayed (Bray Wanderers), Stephen Elliott (Manchester City), Liam Kearney (Nottingham Forest), Willo Flood (Manchester City), Conor Gethins (Ross County).
And on the Irish injury front
Sunderlands Irish contingent: Kevin Kilbane should return for Saturday's {11 Jan} all-important Premiership clash with Blackburn. Thomas Butler and Jason McAteer are both on the long-term injury list, and Mark Rossiter, who limped out of Satudays game {04 Jan} will require more tests to determine whether or not he has sustained serious damage to his injured knee.
Man City's Richard Dunne is currently nursing a virus, which kept the Dublin native out of Citys defeat to Liverpool on the FA Cup on Sunday. It is unlikely that he will shake it off for Saturdays cPremiership with Leeds. Man U captain Roy Keane is expected to be sidelined for tomorrow night's {Tues 07} Worthington Cup semi-final first leg clash with Blackburn Rovers. John O’Shea will return to the United squad after missing the meeting with Portsmouth through injury, but Damien Duff will miss the Cup tie with hamstring trouble. Newcastles Andy O'Brien was substituted during the Magpies defeat to Wolves on Sunday {05 Jan} with a recurring back injury as a precaution.
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