Dunne left out of Kerr’s 23-man squad for qualifiers

BRIAN KERR yesterday named an international squad for his first competitive international that might well have been selected by his predecessor Mick McCarthy.

Richard Dunne (Manchester City) is the only one of the World Cup squad which competed in Japan and South Korea not included in a panel of 23 players, apart from the three who have retired Niall Quinn, Alan Kelly and Steve Staunton.

There have been five additions to that squad all predictable choices. Nick Colgan (Hibernian) replaced Alan Kelly (Blackburn). This was a change sign-posted by Kerr when he introduced Colgan as a second-half substitute in the recent friendly against Scotland.

Stephen Carr (Spurs) was a welcome addition after a lengthy injury break and John O'Shea's outstanding form for Manchester United suggests he is likely to force his way into the starting team for the European Championship qualifying ties against Georgia, March 29, and Albania on April 2.

Colin Healy (Celtic) can be regarded as a regular squad member and in the same category as Gary Doherty (Spurs). Both are close to starting positions for Ireland. It was predictable that Kerr would stick closely with Ireland's most experienced players for the two important matches. Ireland's losses to Russia and Switzerland in their opening qualifying matches mean there is no margin for error if they are to regain a challenging position.

The pressure to produce results means Kerr will not be in a position to experiment until Ireland know their fate in the tournament. This also means he will closely monitor the fitness of Ireland's two best forwards, Damien Duff and Robbie Keane, over the next two weeks.

Duff is due to make a comeback with Blackburn this weekend after missing a month because of a hamstring injury. Keane is hoping to return with Spurs against Bolton a week on Monday.

"That is just five days before the Georgia game which is not ideal. Chris Hughton is keeping me updated on him and Robbie is confident he will be okay," said Kerr. What Kerr was not prepared to disclose yesterday was whether he regarded Duff as a centre-forward partner for Keane or as a left-wing, his preferred position.

"You will have to wait until the day of the match to see," was Kerr's guarded response, but he was more positive when asked about Duff's fitness. "I spoke to Damien and he played a full practice match on Wednesday and is ready to go."

Kerr recalled Sunderland's Jason McAteer, who has not played for the international team since September when he limped off during Ireland's 4-2 defeat by Russia. He missed McCarthy's final game in charge against Switzerland in October and was also ruled out of the friendly against Greece in November and Kerr's first game in charge last month, a 2-0 victory over Scotland.

For that game in Glasgow Kerr named a 26-man squad, but he has left out Dunne, Stephen McPhail, Southampton's Rory Delap and Mark Kennedy. Kerr admitted Kennedy was a little unfortunate to be left out. "He's playing well and we've watched him a few times but Damien (Duff) and Kevin Kilbane can both play on the left so we're well covered," he said.

Squad: Kiely (Charlton), Colgan (Hibernian), Given (Newcastle), Carr (Tottenham), Breen (West Ham), O'Brien (Newcastle), Cunningham (Birmingham, Kelly (Leeds), Finnan (Fulham), O'Shea (Man Utd), Harte (Leeds), Carsley (Everton), Healy (Celtic), McAteer (Sunderland), Kinsella (Aston Villa), Holland (Ipswich), Reid (Millwall), Duff (Blackburn), Kilbane (Sunderland), Morrison (Birmingham), Doherty (Tottenham), Connolly (Wimbledon), Keane (Tottenham).