Carr and McPhail make welcome return to Republic squad

THE return of Stephen Carr (Spurs) and Stephen McPhail (Leeds Utd) to Ireland’s international squad was the most welcome news from manager Mick McCarthy when he released the names of those who will travel to play Finland in a friendly international in Helsinki on August 21.

McCarthy will have just this one match in which to look at the young Irish stars who are queuing up for places in the senior squad left vacant by the retirement of Steve Staunton, Niall Quinn and Alan Kelly and the unavailability of Roy Keane.